Economic recession, inflation and unemployment are the first preoccupations of community citizens, who go on trusting the European Union on the whole to a great extent. It was certified by the latest survey by Eurobarometer, made known in Brussels today. The survey was carried out on a sample of thirty thousand citizens in the 27 member States from last March to last May. "The results reflect the current economic difficulties and confirm that the European Union should continue its policies meant to improve the daily lives of the people": the vice president of the Commission, Margot Wallstrom, commented the results of the survey, and added: "It is reassuring to see that the people are going on trusting common institutions to a great extent". The security question is replaced by economic issues: 46% of the interviewed think that the situation in their countries will worsen in the next twelve months. 37% of Europeans believe that inflation is the first urgent issue to be faced, while the second place is occupied by unemployment (24%). 44% of them "think that the European Union protects them from globalization effects", while 35% think the opposite. Among the political institutions trusted by the interviewed, the European Union obtained 50% of consensus, against 32% of national governments.
