A study on the perceptions of the European Union - A comparison between Denmark, Germany, Hungary and Italy before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This thesis examines the perception of the EU among the population of four member states (Denmark, Germany, Hungary and Italy) before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The research question driving this dissertation is the following: is support for the EU multidimensional in nature, and if so, how do different dimensions relate to each other? The methodology used is based on the comparative analysis of surveys carried out by the European Commission, i.e. Eurobarometer polls, and prominent authors of this research field. Plausible hypotheses will be suggested to try and understand how different dimensions provide either support or distrust towards the EU. To do so, three main correlated variables will be used: utilitarianism, populism and Euroscepticism. It is argued that in recent years there has been a negative shift in the attitudes towards the EU in three out of four examined countries. Indeed, Denmark, despite its slightly Eurosceptic tendencies in the past, has been showing signs of a renewed utilitarian Europhilia by means of the elimination of the opt-out on European defence and security co-operation. In the other examined countries, the aforementioned variables corroborate the thesis of a lack of support for the EU, which has only become more evident during the 2020 sanitary crisis.