European Union citizens are more and more worrying about the economic downturn, while their level of trust in the European institutions is unchanged. They believe the EU institutions are among the players encouraging international political stability. According to the autumn survey by Eurobarometer (30 thousand interviews in the 27 EU States, made from October to the beginning of November), the "perception of the situation and of the economic perspectives was seriously affected by the financial crisis". Over two thirds of EU citizens (69%, 20 percentage points more with respect to autumn 2007) actually "believe that their national economies are in difficult conditions"; on the other hand, 58% of them think the European economy is going through a "difficult situation". Margot Wallstrom, vice president of the Commission, stated: "The new Eurobarometer reflects the current hard times. Citizens really worry about the economic downturn. For the European Union, the challenge is being able to put into practice the package destined to recovery, which has been recently adopted". In particular, the interviewed are "very pessimistic about short-term perspectives. Over one half of them believe that the economic situation in their country will worsen in the next twelve months". (To be continued)” “
