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Press Release
Despite efforts by Bush administration, European opinion on United States remains unmoved
September 07, 2005
~More Europeans than Americans support democracy promotion as a foreign policy objective~
Contact:
WASHINGTON, DC (September 7, 2005) — A new survey of Americans and Europeans released today finds that six months after George W. Bush’s ambitious outreach to Europe, European public opinion toward the United States remains unchanged. Both Americans and Europeans feel relations have stayed the same (52% EU9, 50% Americans). The survey also reveals that 55% of Europeans (EU9) desire a more independent approach from the United States on international security and diplomatic affairs [1]0.
While opinion toward the United States has not improved, there seems to be no increase in anti-Americanism as some had feared. Despite their 72% disapproval rating of President Bush’s handling of international policies, Europeans put disapproval of U.S. leadership in world affairs at just 59% (the same as in 2004). Furthermore, warmth of feeling toward the United States remains at 50 degrees on a thermometer scale of 100 (51 in 2004). Americans on the other hand continue to want closer relations with the European Union and desire strong EU leadership in world affairs.
Transatlantic Trends 2005 — a project of The German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Compagnia di San Paolo in Turin, Italy, with additional support from the Luso-American Foundation (Portugal), and the Fundación BBVA (Spain) — measures broad public opinion in the United States and 10 European countries and gauges the pulse of transatlantic relations. For the fourth consecutive year, participants were asked their views on each other, as well as on global threats, foreign policy objectives, world leadership, multilateral institutions, and the European Union.
“We found that, despite major efforts to repair relations, there is still a rift in how we view each other and the world," said Craig Kennedy, President of the German Marshall Fund. “Leaders on both sides of the Atlantic need to build upon areas where Americans and Europeans do agree, like democracy promotion, to pave the way forward for transatlantic relations."
Democracy Promotion: Interestingly, the nexus of President Bush’s foreign policy agenda — democracy promotion — is widely supported among both Europeans and Americans, but receives much higher marks from Europeans (74% EU9 vs. 51% U.S.). As to how to actually promote democracy, Europeans and Americans both strongly prefer soft-power options — only 39% of Americans and 32% of Europeans (EU9) support the use of military force.
Support for EU Still High: Recent rejections of the EU Constitution in France and the Netherlands do not seem to indicate lack of support for the European Union as an institution. Despite the failure of the two referenda, Europeans on the whole continue to have very positive feelings about the EU. Even Europeans who see themselves as likely to be personally affected by an economic downturn or by immigration — common explanations for the no votes — do not show significantly cooler feelings toward the EU.
“Again, the public opinions of major European countries have proved to be bolder and more far-sighted than most of their political elites by strongly asserting the need for a clearer global political role for the Union” said Piero Gastaldo, Secretary General of the Compagnia di San Paolo. “The French
and Dutch rejection of the Constitutional Treaty should not be seen as evidence of lack of support for a strong political Europe, as confirmed by the strong consensus, even in France and Germany, for a single EU seat on the UN Security Council.”
Global Threats: Regarding what most worries Americans and Europeans, both Americans and Europeans’ cite economic downturn as the threat most likely to personally affect them. More Americans cite international terrorism as a likely personal threat than do Europeans (71% vs. 53%). [2] Europeans see themselves as more likely to be personally affected by global warming (73% to 64% Americans). Across the board, Americans are more afraid of every threat asked, except global warming.
Other Key Findings of Transatlantic Trends 2005:
AMERICANS AND EUROPEANS DIFFER ON DIRECTION OF PARTNERSHIP
While 54% of Americans believe the partnership between the U.S. and EU should become closer (down 6 points from 2004), 55% of Europeans (EU9) believe the EU should take a more independent approach to security and diplomatic affairs (up 5 points).
SUPPORT FOR AN EU SUPERPOWER INCREASES AMONG AMERICANS
Seventy percent of Europeans (EU9) want the EU to become a “superpower” like the United States (71% in 2004) Forty-seven percent of Americans support an EU superpower (41% in 2004) and 80% of those are in favor even if the EU would not always agree with U.S. policy.
THERE IS NO CONSENSUS ON POLICY OPTIONS FOR DEALING WITH IRAN
Europeans prefer diplomatic pressure over economic sanctions or incentives, while Americans are divided among the options. There is barely any support for a military solution, with only 5% of Europeans and 15% of Americans in favor of military action.
EUROPEANS AND AMERICANS AGREE, HUMAN RIGHTS MATTER IN CHINA
As Europeans and Americans look to deepen economic relations with China, there is agreement that human rights should be taken into consideration. Slim majorities on both sides of the Atlantic agree that the United States (52%) and EU (54% EU9) should limit economic relations with China because of human rights violations.
AMERICANS AGREE ON HARD THREATS, DIVERGE ON SOFT THREATS
While Democrats and Republicans remain divided on Bush’s handling of international affairs, they agree on “hard” threats to the United States like the spread of nuclear weapons, terrorism, and Islamic fundamentalism. Democrats, however, are more worried about global warming, AIDS, and an economic downturn than are Republicans.
EUROPEANS UNDECIDED ON TURKISH MEMBERSHIP TO EU, FAVORABILITY DOWN
With Turkey to begin accession talks for EU membership this October, both Europeans and Turks are less favorable to Turkish membership than they were last year. While the number of Europeans who said it is a bad thing increased nine points, a plurality of Europeans (42% EU9) feels it is neither a good thing nor a bad thing. Turkish support for membership, while still high, dropped ten points to 63%.
U.S. LEADERSHIP IN WORLD AFFAIRS
Fifty-nine percent of Europeans say strong U.S. leadership in world affairs is undesirable, while 73% of Americans support strong EU leadership in world affairs. Seventy-two percent of Europeans say they disapprove of President Bush’s international policies, with Americans split 48% approve to 49% disapprove.
EUROPEANS SUPPORT A SINGLE EU SEAT ON THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
A majority of Europeans (60% EU9), including 62% of French and 64% of German respondents, support a single EU seat on the UN Security Council even if it would replace the seats currently held by France and the UK. Only the UK disagreed, with 55% opposed.
VARYING VIEWS OF U.S. PARTNERSHIP IN GERMANY
Forty-nine percent of Germans who identify themselves with the political right and 54% of those who identify with the center feel that the U.S.–EU partnership should become closer or remain the same. Only 29% of the German left agrees.
SUPPORT FOR NATO REMAINS POSITIVE, WITH SMALL DECLINES FROM 2004
European support for NATO declined 5 points in 2004 to 56%, and U.S. support declined a mere 2 points to 60%. Germany and Italy have shown the most notable decreases since the survey first ran in 2002, with a 15 point decline in Germany to 59% and a 16 point decline in Italy to 52%.
DIFFERING CONCEPTS OF SUPERPOWER IN EUROPE
Europeans differ on what being a superpower means: 26% of those that want the EU to become a superpower believe that the EU should concentrate on economic power and do not favor increased military spending, 35% value both military and economic power and are willing to pay for increased military spending.
For the full report and top-line data, see www.transatlantictrends.org
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
Transatlantic Trends is a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (www.gmfus.org) and the Compagnia di San Paolo (www.compagnia.torino.it) with additional support from the Luso-American Foundation (www.flad.pt), and Fundación BBVA (www.fbbva.es).
METHODOLOGY
TNS Opinion and Social conducted the survey and collected the data from the United States and ten European countries: Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and Turkey. Interviews were conducted by telephone using CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews) in all countries except Poland, Slovakia, and Turkey (where lower telephone penetration necessitates face-to-face interviews), between May 30, 2005 and June 17, 2005. In each country, a random sample of approximately 1,000 men and women, 18 years of age and older were interviewed. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
[1] All data refer to the10 European countries surveyed (Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and Turkey) unless otherwise noted. EU9 refers to current EU members and therefore doesn’t include Turkey.
[2] Fieldwork for the survey conducted before London bombings in July 2005
