Europeans are starting to be more confident about the economy according to the Spring 2011 Eurobarometer. The bi-annual opinion poll organised by the European Union shows that 43% of Europeans think that the crisis’s impact on the job market has already reached its peak, which means one percentage point more than in the previous survey in autumn 2010. Europeans are also increasingly asking for EU action and stronger European cooperation to tackle the crisis and avoid future problems.

Europeans citizens are starting to be more optimistic about the economy’s outlook with more people saying that the worst of the crisis is behind us. This is the main conclusion drawn from the Spring 2011 Eurobarometer. In addition, Europeans continue to broadly support the idea of being stronger by working together. Nearly 8 out of 10 Europeans think stronger coordination of economic policy among EU Member States would be effective in tackling the economic situation. Moreover, citizens also continue to see the EU as the most effective actor – ahead of national governments – in tackling the effects of the economic crisis.

Nevertheless there is still some scepticism in countries that continue to face recession and rising unemployment, while the general EU trend is positive. A majority of Member States, in particular Denmark, Estonia, and Austria, believe that the impact of the economic crisis on the job market has already reached its peak. The opposite opinion is seen in countries struggling with the crisis, such as Portugal and Greece.

Europeans rated all seven initiatives as important regarding the Europe 2020 Strategy. Support was the highest for helping the poor and socially excluded and enabling them to play an active part in society, modernising labour markets, with a view to raising employment levels, and supporting an economy that uses less natural resources and emits less greenhouse gas. The majority of Europeans also believe that the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy – fostering innovation and increasing competitiveness – are realistic and can be achieved.