Eurobarometer Data Service

Most Important Issues

What do you think are the most important issues facing (OUR COUNTRY) in the moment? (MAX. 2 ANSWERS)

Issues starting with Eurobarometer 57.2

  • Crime
  • Public Transport [only up to Eurobarometer 65.3]
  • Economic Situation (TCC: ... in our Community)
  • Rising prices / inflation
  • Taxation
  • Unemployment
  • Terrorism
  • Defence / foreign affairs [up to EB 76.3] (TCC: Cyprus issue)
  • Housing [not asked as EU issue]
  • Immigration
  • Health care system [EB 77.3: Health and social security] [not asked as EU issue]
  • The educational system [not asked as EU issue]
  • Pensions
  • Protecting the environment [EB 72.4: The environment]
  • Energy related issues (energy prices, energy shortages, etc.) [starting with Eurobarometer 65.3]
  • The environment, climate and energy issues [starting with EB 77.3; except EU issues]
  • Governmnet debt [EB 74.2 ff.; country issue only; EB 74.2, 75.3 and 76.3 asked to one half of the samples (SPLIT) only; not in EB 83.3]
  • Others

Follow up question starting with Eurobarometer 70.1

And personally, what are the two most important issues you are facing for the moment?

Specific personal items:

  • The financial situation of your household (starting with EB 77.3)

Follow up question starting with Eurobarometer 74.2

What do you think are the two most important issues facing the European Union at the moment?

EU specific items:

  • EU's influence in the world
  • The state of member states' public finances
  • Energy supply
ZA Study Number Eurobarometer Fieldwork Month Fieldwork Year Question Number Variable Name (1)
0628 ECS73 9-10 1973 Q.1 V20-V30 (2)
1318 19 3-4 1983 Q.271B_2 V200 (5)
1715 30 10-11 1988 Q.123 (8)  
1750 31 3-4 1989 Q.413/416/419 V300-V311 (3)
1751 31A 7 1989 Q.216/218 V303-V326 (3)
2491 41.1 6-7 1994 Q.47 V173-V175 (4)
3640 57.2 4-6 2002 Q.2  
3904 59.1 3-4 2003 Q.5  
3938 60.1 10-11 2003 Q.26  
4056 61 2-3 2004 Q.27  
4229 62.0 10-11 2004 Q.33  
4411 63.4 5-6 2005 QA26  
4414 64.2 10-11 2005 QA30  
4506 65.2 3-5 2006 QA28 (7)  
4507 65.3 5-6 2006 QD1  
4526 66.1 9-10 2006 QA23  
4528 66.3 11-12 2006 QA26a/b (6)  
4530 67.2 4-5 2007 QA18  
4565 68.1 9-11 2007 QA6  
4744 69.2 3-5 2008 QA6  
4819 70.1 10-11 2008 QA8/A9  
4971 71.1 1-2 2009 QA5/A6  
4973 71.3 6-7 2009 QA4/A5  
4994 72.4 10-11 2009 QA5/A6  
5234 73.4 5 2010 QA7/A8  
5449 74.2 11-12 2010 QA6/A7/A8  
5481 75.3 5 2011 QA6/A7/A8  
5567 76.3 11 2011 QA6/A7/A8  
5612 77.3 5 2012 QA7/A8/A9  
5685 78.1 11 2012 QA5/A6/A7  
5689 79.3 5 2013 QA6/A7/A8  
5876 80.1 11 2013 QA4/A5/A6  
5913 81.2 3 2014 QA4/A5/A6  
5928 81.4 5-6 2014 QA4/A5/A6  
5932 82.3 11 2014 QA3/A4/A5  
5964 83.1 2-3 2015 QA3/A4/A5  
5998 83.3 5 2015 QA3/A4/A5  
6643 84.3 11 2015 QA3/A4/A5  
6694 85.2 5 2016 QA3/A4/A5  
6788 86.2 11 2016 QA3/A4/A5  
6863 87.3 5 2017 QA3/A4/A5  
6928 88.3 11 2017 QA3/A4/A5  
6963 89.1 3 2018 QA3/A4/A5  
7489 90.3 11 2018 QA3/A4/A5  
7562 91.2 3 2019 QA1/QA2 (9)  
7576 91.5 6-7 2019 QA3/A4/A5  
7601 92.3 11-12 2019 QA3/A4/A5  
7649 93.1 7-8 2020 QA3/A4/A5  
7780 94.3 2-3 2021 QA3/A4/A5  
7783 95.3 6-7 2021 QA3/A4/A5  
7848 96.3 1-2 2022 QA3/A4/A5  
7902 97.5 6-7 2022 QA3/A4/A5  
7952 98.1 10-11 2022 QC1(10)  
7953 98.2 1-2 2023 QA3/A4/A5  
7997 99.4 5-6 2023 QA3/A4/A5  
8779 100.2 10-11 2023 QA3/A4/A5  

(1) Please note that the variable names refer to the final ICPSR/ZA codebook editions, if available.

(2) Slightly different question wording and partly different or modified items: agricultural problems, labour market problems, economic problems, standard of living, housing problems, other social problems, country specific problems (specified), world peace, European unity, other problems 

(3) Different question wording (first, second and third most important issues) and partly different or modified items: unemployment, stable prices, European unification, arms limitation, agricultural surplus, environment protection, EC membership Turkey, European Single Market, country specific issues (specified) 

(4) Different question wording (first, second and third most important issues) and partly different or modified items: fighting unemployment, securing stable prices, furthering the political unification of Western Europe, solving the immigration problems, reducing the agricultural surpluses, protecting the environment, fighting crime, country specific issues (specified) 

(5) Different question wording and after probing the decision level (national or common) for each item: Here are a number of present day problems. For each one would you tell me of these problems, which three would you consider the most important? ... PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND FIGHT POLLUTION. 

(6) Different question wording and partly different items: I am going to show you a card with a list of topics. Thinking of (OUR COUNTRY), please tell me which 3 topics from this list currently concern you the most. And which 3 topics concern you the most for the next generation?

(7) Only COUNTRY issues and with questionnaire split.

(8) Different question wording (only personally) and country specific items: These days, which are for you the most important topics and events?

(9) Only COUNTRY and EU issues.

(9) Only EU issues.