Parliamentary question - P-1655/2007Parliamentary question
P-1655/2007

Eurobarometer — opinion surveys

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1655/07
by Lasse Lehtinen (PSE)
to the Commission

The Commission has regularly carried out opinion surveys of EU citizens, known as Eurobarometers. Many of the surveys have concerned energy matters. The results are then used as a justification and basis for EU policy-making.

The results of Eurobarometer seem to be very different from surveys carried out by Member States. For instance the perception of nuclear energy is much more positive in most national surveys than in the Eurobarometer. Can we really trust the objectivity of the Eurobarometer or could the surveys possibly be subject to some kind of manipulation?

Could the Commission therefore clarify the process and the background of the Eurobarometer surveys, especially concerning the energy opinion surveys, and make sure that the results really reflect the opinions of the citizens?

OJ C 45, 16/02/2008