Belgians far more worried about public debt than other Europeans, survey shows
Belgians are significantly more worried about public debt than other Europeans, according to the autumn edition of the Eurobarometer survey. They are also more worried about Russia and favour greater EU decision-making compared with the European average.
According to the survey, 30 per cent of Belgian respondents see public debt as the country’s biggest challenge, compared with an EU average of just 12 per cent. The high cost of living ranks second in Belgium, followed by concerns about immigration, the economy and security.
At EU level, Belgians see immigration as the most pressing challenge, ahead of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Still, 80 per cent of respondents view Russia’s invasion as a threat to European security, above the EU average of 77 per cent. Almost three quarters also believe the war poses a direct threat to Belgium and support continued European backing for Kyiv.
Views on the EU and democracy are more divided. More than three quarters of Belgians agree that European challenges should be tackled collectively, while nearly 70 per cent want more decision-making powers for the EU compared with other levels of government. Both figures are well above the EU average.
Trust in the EU, however, remains relatively low at 43 per cent, compared with 48 per cent across the bloc. Satisfaction with Belgian democracy is also limited. Just 55 per cent of those surveyed are satisfied with how democracy works in Belgium, roughly the same low level recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trust in media drops
Trust in traditional media remains higher in Belgium than elsewhere in the EU, but has declined sharply. Confidence in radio and television has fallen by around 10 percentage points to 72 per cent and 69 per cent respectively, while trust in the written press has dropped five points to 65 per cent. Trust in the internet and social media is at an all-time low, at 39 per cent and 23 per cent.
Despite these worries, overall life satisfaction remains high. Some 87 per cent of Belgians say they are satisfied with their lives, the survey shows.
The Eurobarometer survey is conducted twice a year to track public opinion trends across EU member states. The autumn edition was based on interviews with 1,013 Belgian respondents.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ
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