PUBLIC OPINION: EUROBAROMETER MEASURES LUKEWARM SUPPORT FOR EU.

The latest six-monthly Eurobarometer report was published on April 19. This 52nd Commission study on public opinion presents the views of European citizens towards the EU in the Autumn of 1999. The results are more positive than those from the Spring 1999 survey, which was taken shortly after the Santer Commission resigned en masse.

One in two don't trust the EU institutions.

People were more likely to trust the institutions and bodies of the European Union than they were in the spring of 1999 - but still one in two don't trust the EU institutions. Trust in the European Commission increased by 5 percentage points to 45%. In Ireland, Denmark (both +16), Sweden (+15), Portugal and Austria (both +11), trust levels increased by more than 10 percentage points. The European Parliament continued to be most trusted institution (53%, +3).

Citizens divided over EU membership.

Following the low level recorded in Spring 1999 (49%), support for the European Union was apparent among more than half of the EU population (51%). Forty-six percent of EU citizens were of the view that their country had benefited from membership (+2).

Enlargement is most unpopular policy.

Enlargement comes out particularly unfavourably from the survey. But there is less than enthusiastic support for many EU policies.

- Less than 3 in 10 Europeans believed welcoming new member states should be a priority for the European Union. EU citizens were most likely to support the membership of Malta (49%) and Hungary (47%). Turkey is the least popular candidate country, with support ranging from 20% in Germany to 44% in Ireland. However, support for the membership of European countries like Norway (71%) and Switzerland (70%) was significantly higher.

- Only five in ten EU citizens were of the view that reforming the EU institutions and bodies and the way they work is a priority for the European Union.

- On average, just 53% of people supported joint EU decision-making in 25 areas where the Union has, to varying degrees, decision-making competency. EU decision-making was favoured over national decision-making in 17 of the 25 areas.

- However, more than 7 in 10 EU citizens were of the opinion that the European Union should have a common defence and security policy and more than 6 in 10 felt it should have a common foreign policy.

- And six in ten EU citizens supported the single currency, while 32% were against...