Flash Eurobarometer

In addition to the Standard Eurobarometer survey series complementary small scale Flash Eurobarometer have been launched by the European Commission in the late eighties, turning out a Monthly Monitor in 1994, and weekly Continuous Tracking Surveys in 1996. The Flash surveys also include series on special topics (e.g. Internet) and special target group polls starting with the the Top Decision Makers Survey pilot study in 1996, with emphasis on manager polls on enterprise related EU topics.

In general, Flash Eurobarometer data are free for secondary analyses one year after the fieldwork date. Flash Eurobarometer are usually conducted in all EU member states at times, sometimes excluding or including additional countries as a function of the respective topic. Main Flash Eurobarometer results are published in official reports. 

Whereas the fieldwork periods for standard Eurobarometer are fix, Flash Eurobarometer surveys on single current affairs are carried out in between - starting with Flash No.1 on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome in 1987 ("Europe 2000"). Usually the sample size is reduced to 500 per country and the interviews are conducted by phone.

Until 2005 the fieldwork was carried out through the national institutes associated with EOS Gallup Europe, starting with 2003 associated with Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), also responsible for the co-ordination and the production of the integrated data sets.

Starting with Flash Eurobarometer 181 (2006) the fieldwork co-ordination was taken over by  Gallup Europe (The Gallup Organisation, Europe s.a.).   

• Flash EB study profiles - all available Flash surveys sorted by topics (including access to basic questionnaires)
• Flash EB reports - European Commission web site
   

Monthly Monitors (1994 - 1995)

Still within the framework of the Flash Eurobarometer series, the Commission decided to start in 1994 small scale monthly surveys in all EU (EC) member countries for permanent observation and earlier perception of changes in European public opinion: the Monthly Monitors starting with Flash Eurobarometer 23 in January 1994 under the direction of Karlheinz Reif, Eric Marlier, and Anna Melich. Each national sample (n=500 realised interviews) is representative of the population aged 15 and over, interviewed by telephone, within a few limits (Greece: the 5 main urban areas; Ireland: the Dublin area; Portugal: the 5 main urban areas; United Kingdom: Northern Ireland excluded). The monthly surveys usually include about 5 questions on current EU affairs plus a few trends and demographic information.

• Monthly Monitor Study profiles - including access to basic questionnaires
   

Continuous Tracking Survey (1996 - 1998)  

Replacing the Monthly Monitors, the Continuous Tracking Survey (CTS) was carried out on behalf of the European Commission Directorate General X - Survey Research Unit, under the direction of Anna Melich, from January 1996 until end 1998. It consisted of some 200 telephone interviews done in each Member State (except 2 x 200 in Germany), each week, 44 weeks a year. The national fieldwork was carried out by member companies of EUROQUEST MRB. 

The CTS is restricted to service the needs of the President, the College and the Commissioner responsible for Information and Communication. The data are not made available for secondary analysis purposes. Results have been published in the European Commission's Europinion series.