Plenary Insights – November 2024 

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

• The future of European competitiveness: A relative majority of citizens (40%) believe that over the past years, the role of the EU in the world has become more important. Comparatively, 35% think that its role in the world has remained stable, while 22% consider that it has become less important. 27% of EU citizens put competitiveness, economy and industry among the top aspects the EU should focus on, in order to reinforce its position in the world - the forth rank in list, after defence and security (37%), energy issues, resources and infrastructure (30%) and food security and agriculture (30%). (EP Spring 2024 Eurobarometer survey)
• Financial and military support for Ukraine: 70% of European citizens support the provision of financial support to Ukraine, with more than 90% in favour in Sweden, Denmark and Finland. 60% support financing the purchase and supply of military equipment. (Standard Eurobarometer - Spring 2024)
• Dialogue on the future of EU agriculture: Almost one fifth of EU citizens (18%) think that the bloc should address agriculture as a priority. In Croatia (33%) and Slovakia (31%), respondents are most likely to think that the EU should prioritise agriculture and food security. Slovenia (32%) and France (27%) join these Member States at the high end of the country ranking. (Eurobarometer survey on EU challenges and priorities)
• Global measures towards social media platforms: While TV remains Europeans preferred way of accessing news, social media are gaining ground. Social media platforms are the biggest source of news for youth. Traditional broadcast and print media, and their online presence, rank higher as trusted news sources than online news platforms and social media channels. (Media and News 2023 Eurobarometer survey).
• Deteriorating situation of women in Afghanistan: Looking at the new legislative term, the main values Europeans would like the European Parliament to focus on are peace (47%), democracy (33%) and the protection of human rights in the EU and worldwide (24%). (EP Spring 2024 Eurobarometer survey) By 2023, Afghanistan ranked last out of 177 countries evaluated in the Women Peace and Security Index, a global survey of how societies embrace — or don’t embrace — women’s rights.