2011 - Survey - Europeans and energy (part I)

On the eve of the first European Council of 4 February 2011, devoted exclusively to energy, it became useful to measure the perception that Europeans have on the energy issue and on the respective roles of the European Union and its Member States in this area.

Due to the dates of adoption of the different resolutions, this survey will be divided in two parts, the first one to be published before the European Council and the other one during the month of March. This latter will be focused on more specific questions related to the new EU energy strategy of 2020.

As part of this first survey conducted by TNS Opinion, three general questions related to proposals made several times by the European Parliament, have been asked. The responses of the Europeans are very clear.

On one hand, respondents are well aware of the European added value that a better coordination of energy policies, as well as greater solidarity between Member states in the event of a supply crisis, would allow.

On the other hand, on energy priorities, the results show how the energy culture and the energy situation of each country of the EU, affect the nature of the answers. That's why we thought it important to include in this note a series of Eurostat statistics and maps ("Panorama of energy / edition 2009") which illustrate the energy context of each Member State.

Which priority to reinforce the energy cooperation?

Stability of energy prices, first priority of the respondents (29%)

Renewable energies, second priority of the respondents (27%)

Guarantee of energy supply, third priority of the respondents (20%)

Energy efficiency, fourth priority of the respondents (16%)