EU citizens ‘frustrated’ and ‘uncertain’ amid coronavirus pandemic

Brussels, Jun 3 (EFE) – Europeans feel ‘uncertain’ and ‘frustrated’ about their current situation and the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Eurobarometer survey published Thursday.

Less than half of respondents said they were satisfied with the measures taken by the EU to fight the pandemic, and 45% of people said their current emotional status was of “uncertainty” while 34% said they felt “frustration.”

But despite 30% of Europeans feeling “helplessness” about the pandemic, 37% of them said they feel “hope” for the future and only 20% of respondents are “angry.”

There is a clear link between the emotional status of Europeans and how the coronavirus pandemic affected their personal income, according to the report.

In eight countries, the majority of respondents said their income had been directly impacted by the health crisis, and in an additional three countries most respondents believe the pandemic will impact their income in the future.

Despite the financial impact of the pandemic, over half of respondents believe that the health benefits of restrictions in their country outweigh the economic damage they might have caused.

Even though the majority of EU citizens maintain a positive image of the EU — the highest level in more than a decade — 74% agree the bloc should have more power to deal with the pandemic and half believe public health should be the EU’s top priority.

The Eurobarometer was carried out between March 16 and April 12, 2021, in the 27 member states. EFE

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