Survey

We found the population very diversified on the question to what extent it feels represented by the Community institutions. On the average, however, it feels the most represented by the Commission and the least by the Council of Ministers and the European Council. The sample feels moderately represented by the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice and the European Central Bank.

The vast majority of the surveyed individuals thinks that the European Parliament should have equal decision right with the Council.

A majority, almost half of the respondents is in favour of the elected Presidency of the Council.

The sample is very divided on the question whether the Council should give up its executive functions and become solely a legislative body but a bare majority thinks it should.

According to a vast majority of the interviewed sample, the Council meetings should become public.

The sample is completely divided on the question whether the unanimity rule should be maintained. Precisely half of the surveyed individuals opine that it should be maintained for a very reduced number of cases, whereas almost another half thinks that it should be abolished and substituted by decision-making process based on a qualified majority.

The majority of the interviewees think that the Commission should become the only executive body of the EU.

Most interviewees would prefer if each country had a member on the Commission so that each Member State was represented on this institution.

According to a significant majority of the sample, the President of the Commission should be elected by the European Parliament, while the individual Commissioners should be appointed by the President of the Commission and approved by the EP.

More than two thirds of the interviewees opine that the European Council should have only a strategic role within the EU.

Many interviewees shared the opinion that there are more and more problems (i.e. regarding unemployment, immigration, the environment, etc.) that one country just by itself cannot face efficiently enough, therefore it has become necessary that the Member States transferred more of their national sovereignty to the Community institutions in these fields.

All interviewees consider it important that the EU maintained a policy aiming at economic and social cohesion among the member states.

A vast majority of the sample is in favour of the harmonisation of taxation policies, while two thirds of the interviewees would prefer if the national contributions were replaced by an “EU-tax” in order to increase transparency.

A great majority of the sample thinks that the agricultural policy should remain a European competence, but they all agreed that it should be reformed in order to increase its efficiency using decentralisation in order to increase its flexibility to the local reality, less protection but more competition in order to make it more competitive on the global scale, and favouring high-quality products instead of the quantity.

As for the competence of the EU in different policy areas, a majority of the sample thinks that the EU should have a very strong influence in the field of Justice and Home Affairs and the Environmental Policy; a strong or very strong influence in the Economic and the Social Policies; and a medium or strong influence in the Employment Policy; while according to a great majority of the interviewees, all these policies should be conducted by the Commission.

A significant majority of the sample shares the opinion that the Council and the Commission should conduct together both the foreign and the defence policies; and almost all interviewees opine that also the EP should be involved in defining the priorities of these policy areas.

About two thirds of the interviewees would prefer if a member or the Vice-President of the Commission were the EU’s “Foreign Minister”. Furthermore, a significant majority says that the EU needs a “Defence Minister”, too, and most of them think that a representative from the Commission should hold this position.

A great majority of the sample is in favour of a “European Army”, however, only under certain conditions, such as it should replace the national armies, it should be under the control of the EP and it should be used exclusively for defence and pacific purposes.

According to a vast majority of the sample, disputes regarding the distribution of competence between the EU and the Member States should be handled by the European Court of Justice in the future, too.

Almost all respondents think that the Charter of Fundamental Rights should become a legal binding, what is more, it should become the preamble to a future “European Constitution”.

A vast majority of the sample is in favour of merging the different Treaties on which the EU is based into one single document.

As for the question regarding the decision -making methods of the EU, a significant majority of the interviewees would prefer if all matters were decided according to the Community method.

In general, people are in favour of continuing the enlargement process – especially towards the Balkans in order to guarantee political stability in the region – provided that all adhering countries respect the principles of the EU and satisfy the criteria of adhesion. A majority of them would be in favour of the adhesion of Russia, however, the general attitude towards the adhesion of Turkey is more favourable.

As for the ratification of a future “European Constitution”, a bare majority is in favour of a ratification based on a large majority vote and thinks that those states who do not ratify the constitutional treaty should have the opportunity to leave the EU.

Two thirds of the sample opined that there should be a Europe-wide consultative referendum on the “European Constitution”, most of all in order to bring the EU closer to its citizens and to necessitate the Member States to inform the citizens about the Constitution.

Finally, a significant majority thinks that also further changes to the future “European Constitution” should be adopted through the “convention method”.

Info Point Europa of Modena and Progetto Europa of Comune di Modena would like to express their appreciation to the following persons for their kind participation in the survey conducted as part of the transnational project “The Future of Europe – Our Opinion Counts”:

Aloisio, Salvatore MFE/UEF – President; University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Faculty of Economy – Lecturer

Baroni, Floriano CGIL SPI (Trade Union/representative section of the elderly)– Local Secretariat

Bertucelli, Lorenzo University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Faculty of Literature – Lecturer; Historic Institute of Modena - President

Carretti, Alberto LAPAM (Trade Union of crafts and small enterprises)– Local Secretary

Casolari, Federico University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, European Documentation Centre - Fellow

Cavani, Cristina Centro Documentazione Donne (Women documentation centre)– Director

Cocchi, Caterina Student; Students’ Forum of Modena – Member; Model European Parliament – Participant

Cortelloni, Mauro CONFCOMMERCIO (Trade Union for Commerce)– Local Secretary

De Gennaro, Mariagrazia University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Faculty of Law – Student

Lasen, Giulia University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Faculty of European Culture and Languages - Student

Mazzucchi, Angelo COLDIRETTI (Trade Union of Agricultural producers)- Secretary general

Palandri, Ivana University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Faculty of Law – Lecturer; European Documentation Centre – Director general

Poppi, Ivonne SPI (representative union of the elderly/woman section) – Officer

Tosi, Andrea CNA (Trade Union of crafts and small enterprises) – Local Secretary

Ugolini, Gabriele Banca Popolare di Modena (Bank) – Resp. for International Relations

* 3 interviewees who filled in the questionnaire via e-mail did not answer this question as it was missing from the original English version, too. As for the other interviewees, we inserted orally the question in the course of the interview.



		Survey-Italy


		Summary We found the population very diversified on the question to what extent it feels represented by the Community institutions. On the average, however, it feels the most represented by the Commission and the least by the Council of Ministers and the European Council. The sample feels moderately represented by the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice and the European Central Bank. The vast majority of the surveyed individuals thinks that the European Parliament should have equal decision right with the Council. A majority, almost half of the respondents is in favour of the elected Presidency of the Council. The sample is very divided on the question whether the Council should give up its executive functions and become solely a legislative body but a bare majority thinks it should. According to a vast majority of the interviewed sample, the Council meetings should become public. The sample is completely divided on the question whether the unanimity rule should be maintained. Precisely half of the surveyed individuals opine that it should be maintained for a very reduced number of cases, whereas almost another half thinks that it should be abolished and substituted by decision-making process based on a qualified majority. The majority of the interviewees think that the Commission should become the only executive body of the EU. Most interviewees would prefer if each country had a member on the Commission so that each Member State was represented on this institution. According to a significant majority of the sample, the President of the Commission should be elected by the European Parliament, while the individual Commissioners should be appointed by the President of the Commission and approved by the EP. More than two thirds of the interviewees opine that the European Council should have only a strategic role within the EU. Many interviewees shared the opinion that there are more and more problems (i.e. regarding unemployment, immigration, the environment, etc.) that one country just by itself cannot face efficiently enough, therefore it has become necessary that the Member States transferred more of their national sovereignty to the Community institutions in these fields. All interviewees consider it important that the EU maintained a policy aiming at economic and social cohesion among the member states. A vast majority of the sample is in favour of the harmonisation of taxation policies, while two thirds of the interviewees would prefer if the national contributions were replaced by an “EU-tax” in order to increase transparency. A great majority of the sample thinks that the agricultural policy should remain a European competence, but they all agreed that it should be reformed in order to increase its efficiency using decentralisation in order to increase its flexibility to the local reality, less protection but more competition in order to make it more competitive on the global scale, and favouring high-quality products instead of the quantity. As for the competence of the EU in different policy areas, a majority of the sample thinks that the EU should have a very strong influence in the field of Justice and Home Affairs and the Environmental Policy; a strong or very strong influence in the Economic and the Social Policies; and a medium or strong influence in the Employment Policy; while according to a great majority of the interviewees, all these policies should be conducted by the Commission. A significant majority of the sample shares the opinion that the Council and the Commission should conduct together both the foreign and the defence policies; and almost all interviewees opine that also the EP should be involved in defining the priorities of these policy areas. About two thirds of the interviewees would prefer if a member or the Vice-President of the Commission were the EU’s “Foreign Minister”. Furthermore, a significant majority says that the EU needs a “Defence Minister”, too, and most of them think that a representative from the Commission should hold this position. A great majority of the sample is in favour of a “European Army”, however, only under certain conditions, such as it should replace the national armies, it should be under the control of the EP and it should be used exclusively for defence and pacific purposes. According to a vast majority of the sample, disputes regarding the distribution of competence between the EU and the Member States should be handled by the European Court of Justice in the future, too. Almost all respondents think that the Charter of Fundamental Rights should become a legal binding, what is more, it should become the preamble to a future “European Constitution”. A vast majority of the sample is in favour of merging the different Treaties on which the EU is based into one single document. As for the question regarding the decision -making methods of the EU, a significant majority of the interviewees would prefer if all matters were decided according to the Community method. In general, people are in favour of continuing the enlargement process – especially towards the Balkans in order to guarantee political stability in the region – provided that all adhering countries respect the principles of the EU and satisfy the criteria of adhesion. A majority of them would be in favour of the adhesion of Russia, however, the general attitude towards the adhesion of Turkey is more favourable. As for the ratification of a future “European Constitution”, a bare majority is in favour of a ratification based on a large majority vote and thinks that those states who do not ratify the constitutional treaty should have the opportunity to leave the EU. Two thirds of the sample opined that there should be a Europe-wide consultative referendum on the “European Constitution”, most of all in order to bring the EU closer to its citizens and to necessitate the Member States to inform the citizens about the Constitution. Finally, a significant majority thinks that also further changes to the future “European Constitution” should be adopted through the “convention method”. Info Point Europa of Modena and Progetto Europa of Comune di Modena would like to express their appreciation to the following persons for their kind participation in the survey conducted as part of the transnational project “The Future of Europe – Our Opinion Counts”: Aloisio, Salvatore MFE/UEF – President; University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Faculty of Economy – Lecturer Aurighi, Stefano STRADANOVE (Web magazine) – Journalist Barbolini, Greta ARCI (Cultural association)– Local Vice-President Baroni, Floriano CGIL SPI (Trade Union/representative section of the elderly)– Local Secretariat Bellentani, Stefano Town of Modena – President of Town Council Bergianti, Claudio Province of Modena – Vice-President Bertucelli, Lorenzo University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Faculty of Literature – Lecturer; Historic Institute of Modena - President Capuozzo, Francesca Student; Students’ Forum of Modena – President Carletti, Mauro CONFESERCENTI (Trade Union for Commerce)– Local Secretary Carretti, Alberto LAPAM (Trade Union of crafts and small enterprises)– Local Secretary Casolari, Federico University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, European Documentation Centre - Fellow Casto, Oronzo “Muratori” Grammar-School – Principal Cavani, Cristina Centro Documentazione Donne (Women documentation centre)– Director Cocchi, Caterina Student; Students’ Forum of Modena – Member; Model European Parliament – Participant Cortelloni, Mauro CONFCOMMERCIO (Trade Union for Commerce)– Local Secretary Cottafavi, Ennio Town of Modena – Vice-Mayor De Gennaro, Mariagrazia University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Faculty of Law – Student Flori, Teobaldo “Guarini” Technical Secondary Institute – Principal Gimelli, Sergio PROMO (Agency for the promotion of Modena)– Journalist Lasen, Giulia University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Faculty of European Culture and Languages - Student Mazzali, Anna Daniela Chamber of Commerce (EIC office) – project manager Mazzucchi, Angelo COLDIRETTI (Trade Union of Agricultural producers)- Secretary general Nasi, Francesca AGESCI (Scout association) - Provincial Delegate Palandri, Ivana University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Faculty of Law – Lecturer; European Documentation Centre – Director general Poppi, Ivonne SPI (representative union of the elderly/woman section) – Officer Ruoli, Livio Province of Modena – President of the Council Tagliazucchi, Federica UNINDUSTRIA (Trade Union of SME) – Project manager Tosi, Andrea CNA (Trade Union of crafts and small enterprises) – Local Secretary Ugolini, Gabriele Banca Popolare di Modena (Bank) – Resp. for International Relations Zanotti, Ermanno AUSER (NGO) – Regional President * 3 interviewees who filled in the questionnaire via e-mail did not answer this question as it was missing from the original English version, too. As for the other interviewees, we inserted orally the question in the course of the interview. * 3 interviewees who filled in the questionnaire via e-mail did not answer this question as it was missing from the original English version, too. As for the other interviewees, we inserted orally the question in the course of the interview.