MAJORITY OF MEPS SAY EUROPEAN UNEMPLOYMENT SET TO WORSEN IN NEXT 12 MONTHS
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Most MEPs expect European unemployment to get worse over the next 12 months, according to the latest ComRes Europoll™ results. MEPs were generally downbeat across all of the economic indicators tested, with the majority expecting the indicators to stay the same or worsen. The only glimmer of light was for economic growth prospects where marginally more MEPs expect improvement than expect it to worsen.
But one-third of MEPs expect inflation to worse, and the same proportion expect interest rates to increase over the next 12 months, potentially setting recovery back even further,
MEPs on the political left, and from Eastern Europe and Mediterranean Member States are most likely to expect economic conditions to worsen over the next twelve months. MEPs from across Europe are gloomy about unemployment, although Western MEPs are slightly less pessimistic.
More than half of EPP members expect economic growth to improve over the next 12 months compared to only 1 in 20 ALDE members. And interestingly, older MEPs are the most pessimistic and younger MEPs are the least.
Notes to editors
ComRes surveyed 100 MEPs online and by post between 15th February and 5th April 2013. Data were weighted to be representative of the European Parliament. ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Full tables will be posted at www.comres.eu.com
Further info: Andrew Hawkins, ComRes Chairman 07971 209995
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