Public Opinion and Public Information Campaigns: the Value of the Eurobarometer

Abstract

Since April–May 1974 the European Commission has collected, analysed and published public opinion data throughout the European Community. These twice-yearly surveys were carried out from the beginning ‘in order to follow the trends in European public opinion with regard to Community activities, particularly the areas of most interest to the public’. (Eurobar-ometer, no. 1, 1974, p. 1) The name ‘Eurobarometer’ was chosen deliberately because:

Just as a barometer can be used to measure the atmospheric pressure and thus give a short-range weather forecast, this EUROBAROMETER can be used to observe, and to some extent forecast, public attitudes towards the most important current events connected directly or indirectly with the development of the European Community and the unification of Europe, (ibid.)