*What* European Constitution?

Only a fifth of UK citizens are in favour of the draft European Constitution, and only half are even aware of it, according to the findings of a special Eurobarometer, conducted by TNS for the European Commission. Across the EU as a whole, the proportion in favour is 49%.

The survey questioned almost 25,000 people across the 25 Member States. The main reason for opposing the Constitution is a perceived loss of national sovereignty (37% of respondents). A fifth say that lack of information is a key factor.

Some 50% in the UK say they 'have not heard of the draft Constitution' compared with an average of 33% across the EU. Even among those who have heard of it, awareness of the draft Constitution's content is low: just 6% of people in the UK and 11% across Europe say that they 'broadly know the contents'.

Across Europe, there is some correlation between knowing the contents of the Constitution and being in favour of it. Among the third of respondents unaware of the Constitution's content, only 22% support it, versus 60% of those who say they have 'some vague knowledge', and 75% of those who think 'they know its overall contents'. Whether this means that raising awareness of the Constitution will sway the public in its favour, or that it is generally pro-EU types who have taken any notice of it anyhow, remains to be seen.

Despite the low levels of awareness among people in the UK, some 45% say they will be 'certain to vote' in the proposed Constitution referendum, a higher proportion than many other European countries. The referendum is unlikely to take place before 2006, so this figure may bear little relation to the eventual turnout.

According to Marita Carballo, Global Head of TNS Polling & Social, 'Despite the recent announcement confirming that the UK will hold a referendum on the European Constitution, there is still a very low level of awareness of the Constitution and its contents... Promoting public awareness of the Constitution's contents and understanding of how this will impact on their lives will be a key issue in the planned referendum'.

TNS interviewed 24 786 people face-to-face in the 25 member States of the EU, between 27th October and 29th November 2004. The agency is online at www.tns-global.com

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

• Kantar TNS
• All news
• MrWeb info