Poll shows support for EU constitution growing

Support for an EU constitution has grown among member states, although half of all Europeans want the existing draft renegotiated, the latest Eurobarometer poll shows.

While 58 per cent of Irish people want the European Union to have a constitution - up 4 per cent since the last survey - some of the most dramatic increases in support have occurred in the two states that rejected the current draft in referendums earlier this year.

On the concept of an EU constitution, 62 per cent of Dutch people are now in favour, up 9 per cent since last spring. In France, the figure is 67 per cent, up seven points.

Despite the 4 per cent increase, Ireland is still less enthusiastic about the concept than either of these.

The 58 per cent Yes puts it 17th in the EU table, well behind the average of 63 per cent.

By far the most widespread view of the current proposed constitution is that it should be renegotiated, an opinion held by 49 per cent of EU citizens, but most popular in France (65 per cent) and the Netherlands (64 per cent).

The latest instalment of Eurobarometer was taken throughout the member states last October and November, during what the compilers call "a time of reflection and debate" after the referendum defeats.

The Eurobarometer is a regular survey for the European Commission.

Irish enthusiasm for Europe remains undimmed, the figures suggest.

Ireland easily tops the league of states for the proportion of people (86 per cent) who think that, overall, the country has benefited from membership.

On economic prospects, Ireland also bucks a trend towards pessimism.

Only 4 per cent of those polled here mentioned the economic situation as one of their two main worries, the lowest in the EU and far behind top economy worriers Malta (44 per cent) and Germany (43).

By contrast, more Irish people (50 per cent) cited their health system as a cause for concern than in any other member state, while the 42 per cent who nominated crime were exceeded only in Spain and Lithuania.

The other main concerns in Ireland were rising prices (mentioned by 36 per cent of respondents, up 8 per cent on the last poll), and housing (12 per cent, up 1 per cent).

In the EU as a whole, unemployment is the biggest worry (44 per cent), followed by the general economic situation (26) and crime (24).

Life satisfaction is notably higher in the former EU 15, where 82 per cent declared themselves happy with the lives they lead, than in the new member states, where the figure is only 69 per cent.

Again Ireland scores higher than average, with 91 per cent describing themselves as either "very satisfied" or "fairly satisfied" with life.

Only Denmark (96 per cent), Sweden (96), Finland (93) and Luxembourg (92) were higher.

This was in sharp contrast with accession states Bulgaria and Romania, where 70 and 53 per cent, respectively, described themselves in the poll as dissatisfied.