Plenary Insights – April 2024 

Each plenary session, DG COMM provides public opinion data on key topics on the agenda:

•  Recent European Council conclusions: A relative majority of citizens (40%) believe that over the past years, the role of the EU in the world has become more important. Priority areas for the EU to focus on to reinforce its position in the world are defence and security, which was underscored by 37% of respondents, as well as energy issues, and food security and agriculture (both 30%). (EP Spring 2024 Eurobarometer survey).
• 20th anniversary of the largest ever EU enlargement: Trend data from Eurobarometer surveys show that the people in the 10 Member States that joined the EU in 2004 increasingly recognize that EU membership has benefited their country. Over the past two decades, the image of the EU in these countries has varied depending on how the citizens perceived the EU’s reaction to various challenges. (Socio-demographic trends in national public opinion).
• Agricultural policy: The issue of agricultural policy has risen sharply in importance for Europeans: 23% now say that agricultural policy should be discussed with priority during the EP election campaign (EP Spring 2024 Eurobarometer survey).
• Packaging waste: People rate the EU’s efforts for the sustainable use of natural resources, such as reducing waste, as one of the two most significant EU initiatives - 86% rate it as important (Eurobarometer survey on EU challenges and priorities in 2023). Waste reduction and recycling is also an action that citizens are likely to take themselves - 70% say they do (Eurobarometer survey on Climate change).