The European Parliament is the democratically elected legislative body of the European Union. The first elections for the parliament took place in 1979, with elections taking place every five years since then. The parliament does not have direct legislative powers in the European Union, as it instead votes on legislation originated by the European Commission, the highest bureaucratic body of the EU. This lack of direct legislative power has meant that the parliament has often been criticized as being 'powerless', with this being seen by many as indicative of the EU's 'democratic deficit'. On the other hand, proponents of the EP see it as the foundation for any future federalized European democracy.
As of 2023, Portugal, Denmark, and Ireland were the three European Union member states where citizens were most positive about the European Parliament. In Ireland, 59 percent of respondents had a positive image of the parliament, with only 8 percent having a negative image. At the other end of the scale were France, Czechia and Slovenia, with citizens in these countries having more negative than positive opinions of the European Parliament, however, in all of these countries the largest group of respondents were those who said they had a neutral image of the EP. On average, EU citizens were 41 percent positive, 40 percent neutral, and 18 percent negative about the parliament in 2023.
Share of respondents in European Union member states stating that they have a positive or negative image of the European Parliament in 2023, by country
Original question: In general, do you have a very positive, fairly positive, neutral, fairly negative or very negative image of the European Parliament?
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European Commission. (June 16, 2024). Share of respondents in European Union member states stating that they have a positive or negative image of the European Parliament in 2023, by country [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved September 20, 2024, from https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1424410/public-opinion-european-parliament-negative-positive/
European Commission. "Share of respondents in European Union member states stating that they have a positive or negative image of the European Parliament in 2023, by country." Chart. June 16, 2024. Statista. Accessed September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1424410/public-opinion-european-parliament-negative-positive/
European Commission. (2024). Share of respondents in European Union member states stating that they have a positive or negative image of the European Parliament in 2023, by country. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: September 20, 2024. https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1424410/public-opinion-european-parliament-negative-positive/
European Commission. "Share of Respondents in European Union Member States Stating That They Have a Positive or Negative Image of The European Parliament in 2023, by Country." Statista, Statista Inc., 16 Jun 2024, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1424410/public-opinion-european-parliament-negative-positive/
European Commission, Share of respondents in European Union member states stating that they have a positive or negative image of the European Parliament in 2023, by country Statista, https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1424410/public-opinion-european-parliament-negative-positive/ (last visited September 20, 2024)
Share of respondents in European Union member states stating that they have a positive or negative image of the European Parliament in 2023, by country [Graph], European Commission, June 16, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www-statista-com.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/statistics/1424410/public-opinion-european-parliament-negative-positive/