Eurobarometer is a series of surveys regularly performed on behalf of the European Commission since 1973. It produces reports of public opinion of certain issues relating to the European Union across the member states. The Eurobarometer results are published by the Public Opinion Analysis Sector^[1] of the European Commission Directorate-General Communication.

The Eurobarometer program was initially launched and managed by Jacques-René Rabier, with the political support of both the European Parliament and Commission. His task was pursued by Karlheinz Reif, Anna Melich, Rubén Mohedano-Brèthes, Thomas Christensen and Renaud Soufflot de Magny.

Eurobarometer was originally conceived as a way to track and analyse public opinion in all European Member States (later, in candidate and third countries as well) and to improve the information and communication policy of European decision makers.

It is a unique tool for discerning public opinions and trends on a wide variety of issues relating to the EU. Its database since 1973 is one of the largest in the world.

Forerunners of Eurobarometer[link]

In 1970 and 1971 the European Commission conducted surveys in the six member countries (at that time) of the European Community (Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands). These European Communities Studies assessed public opinion on individual national priorities as well as on integrated European functions and organizations, including the Common Market (European Economic Community).

In 1972-1973, national referendums were held regarding the enlargement of the European Community to include Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Regular semi-annual polls of member nations began in September 1973 now including nine countries, with the survey series first being given the name Eurobarometer in 1974. The fieldwork for Euro-Barometer 1 was conducted in April-May of that year, with results published in July.

Already in 1962 and under the header "Attitudes towards Europe" a first international survey on attitudes towards European unification was carried out by GALLUP International on request of the Press- and Information Service of the European Communities (EEC) in Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Standard Eurobarometer survey[link]

The Standard Eurobarometer survey series is a cross-national longitudinal study, designed to compare and gauge trends within member states of the European Union (formerly European Communities).

The Standard Eurobarometer survey is carried out each autumn and spring. Although the range of questions has been expanded over the years, the programme aims to keep most of the survey constant, so that data is comparable over time. Starting with Eurobarometer 34 (1990) separate supplementary surveys on special topics have been conducted under almost each Eurobarometer number. Since autumn 2004 the Standard Eurobarometer is carried out by TNS Opinion and Social.^[2] Special irregularly repeated modules investigate topics such as agriculture, biotechnology, energy, environment, gender roles, family, youth, elderly, health related issues, immigration, poverty, regional identity, science and technology, working conditions, consumer behaviour, urban traffic etc. in a European perspective. In the case of some supplementary studies, special youth and elderly samples have been drawn. The youth supplement to the standard Eurobarometer occurs irregularly, and has so far taken place in 1982, 1987, 1990, and 1997.

Flash Eurobarometer[link]

The Flash Eurobarometer were introduced by the European Commission in the 1990s. It consists of interviews, conducted by telephone, which are undertaken on an ad hoc basis. A Flash EB survey can be carried out at the request of either the Commission or any other EU institution. The main advantage of the Flash EB, as opposed to a normal Eurobarometer survey, is that it is much faster, providing results almost instantaneously. In addition, it is more suitable to the targeting of specific groups within the population of the EU, to find out their opinions on the topic in question. An example would be one conducted in April 2004 about the introduction of the Euro in the new EU member states.^[3] Until 2005 the Flash Eurobarometer have been carried out by EOS Gallup Europe.^[4] In 2006 the contract has been awarded to The Gallup Organization Europe (Gallup Europe).^[5]

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer[link]

The Central and Eastern Eurobarometer series was carried out on behalf of the European Commission between 1990 and 1997. Once a year the CEEB surveys have been monitoring economic and political changes, and attitudes towards Europe and the European Union in up to 20 countries of the region.

Candidate countries Eurobarometer[link]

In October 2001, the European Commission launched a series of surveys in the 13 countries that were applying for European Union membership under the heading Candidate Eurobarometer (initially named Applicant Countries Eurobarometer or AC-EB). The CC-EB surveys were carried out by Gallup Hungary^[6] in Bulgaria, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Turkey. After the EU enlargements in 2004 and 2007, the CC-EB countries are included in the Standard Eurobarometer, intermittently still comprising the remaining candidates, Turkey, and Croatia, as well as the Turkish Cypriot community (Northern Cyprus). Candidate Countries Eurobarometer gathered information from the societies which were going to become members of the EU in a way that is comparable with the Standard Eurobarometer. In 2003, the Candidate Countries Eurobarometer included a supplement on Youth in New Europe, which provided an interesting basis for comparison with the Eurobarometer Reports on Young People.

See also[link]

• Afrobarometer

References[link]

1. ^ EC.europa.eu
2. ^ Text.tns-global.com
3. ^ EC.europa.eu
4. ^ Eosgallupeuropa.com
5. ^ Gallup-Europe.be
6. ^ Gallup.hu

External links[link]

• Public Opinion Analysis sector of the European Commission DG Communication providing public access to the official Eurobarometer reports
• Data Archive services providing access to Eurobarometer primary data for re-use (statistical analysis) in social science research and training (GESIS)
• Cross-national survey programs historical overview and links to resources (GESIS)

Kristalina Georgieva
European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 February 2010
President	José Manuel Barroso
Preceded by	Karel De Gucht (Development and Humanitarian Aid)
Personal details
Born	(1953-08-13) 13 August 1953 (age 58) Sofia, Bulgaria
Alma mater	University of National and World Economy Harvard Business School London School of Economics Massachusetts Institute of Technology Salzburg Global Seminar
Profession	Political economist

Kristalina Ivanova Georgieva (Bulgarian: Кристалина Иванова Георгиева, born on 13 August 1953 in Sofia, Bulgaria^[1]) is a Bulgarian economist and politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response in the second college of the Barroso Commission.^[2][3]

She was appointed as Vice President and Corporate Secretary of the World Bank Group in March 2008; in January 2010 she announced her intention to resign from this post in view of her nomination to the Commission of the European Union.^[4] She has also served as a member of the board of trustees^[5] and associated professor in the Economics Department of the University of National and World Economy in Bulgaria.^[6] On 19 January 2010 she became Bulgaria's replacement European Commissioner nominee for the second college of the Barroso Commission.^[7] Georgieva is affiliated on the European level with the European People's Party (EPP).

Since taking office as Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis response her presence in the field – in Haiti, Chile^[8] and Pakistan^[9] as a response to the natural disasters that have struck there; Sahel in relation to the ongoing food crisis threat;^[10] Darfur as a way to tackle a forgotten conflict;^[11] Kyrgyzstan as a reaction to a sudden onset conflict;^[12] disasters within the EU such as the Romania floods, Hungary industrial accident at Ajka^[13] – along with timely and effective response to these crises, natural and man-made disasters has led to increased EU visibility.

Kristalina Georgieva is named European of the Year^[14] and EU Commissioner of the Year^[15] as an acknowledgment to her work and in particular her handling of the humanitarian disasters in Haiti and Pakistan after previously she was nominated among the candidates for the category Commissioner of the Year the prestigious award organized by the European Voice newspaper. The winner is elected through online voting open to all until 31 October every year.^[16]

Early life and career[link]

Kristalina Georgieva holds a PhD in Economics and a M.A. in Political Economy and Sociology from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia, Bulgaria. Her thesis was on the “Environmental Protection Policy and Economic Growth in the USA”.^[17] She also did post-graduate research and studies in natural resource economics and environmental policy at the London School of Economics and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She held a range of academic and consulting positions in Bulgaria and the US, and has lectured on development topics in universities around the world, including the Australian National University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tsinghua University, Yale University, Harvard University, London School of Economics, the University of the South Pacific and others.^[18]

World Bank Career[link]

Kristalina Georgieva started her career at the World Bank in 1993 as an environmental economist for Europe and Central Asia. Following this she served in various positions in the bank ultimately rising to become Director in the Environment Department in charge of World Bank environmental strategy, policies and lending. From 2004–2007 she was the institutions' Director and Resident Representative in the Russian Federation based in Moscow. She returned to Washington to become Director for Strategy and Operations, Sustainable Development. Her final position at the World Bank, Vice President and Corporate Secretary, conveyed lead responsibility for liaison with the members of the institution's Board of Executive Directors, representing the Bank's shareholders (the member country governments).^[17]

Nomination as European Commissioner and hearing in the European Parliament[link]

After the former Bulgarian nominee, Rumiana Jeleva, came under fire from members of the European Parliament during the confirmation hearing over both her competence for the post and allegations of gaps in her declaration of financial interests, she withdrew her bid, and Kristalina Georgieva was proposed as a new pick by the Bulgarian government.^[7] On 21 January 2010 the European Commission President José Manuel Barroso met with Georgieva and expressed his approval, stating that "Mrs. Georgieva has solid international experience and knowledge with which she is going to contribute significantly in her capacity as a EU Commissioner."^[19]

The confirmation hearing of Georgieva took place at the European Parliament on 4 February 2010. She faced questions on her suitability for the international cooperation, humanitarian aid and crisis response portfolio. Georgieva identified Haiti as a priority, especially the need to provide shelter and health services and to restore the functions and service of the government, so as to start work on reconstruction and long-term development. Other key issues raised in discussions with MEPs had been improving co-ordination within the EU (and within the Commission), and between humanitarian and military players in order to meet the dual challenge posed by expanding needs and shrinking budgets. The need to improve the effectiveness of EU actions and for better response capacity had also been stressed, together with the establishment of European Voluntary Humanitarian Corps.^[20]

Georgieva was given a warm response by MEPs, with Labour MEP Michael Cashman praising her "honesty and deep breadth of knowledge". She was applauded by committee members when she told British Conservative MEP Nirj Deva that she would stand up for the interests of the EU and be an independent mind.^[21] Ivo Vajgl, a Liberal MEP, also praised her, saying: "let me compliment you on your peaceful manner and the confidence you are exuding today".^[22] Her performance at the hearing was widely publicized in Bulgaria and broadcasted live on many national media, where it was seen as question of restoration of national honor following Jeleva's hearing.^[23]

The second college of the Barroso Commission, including Georgieva, was approved by the European Parliament on 9 February 2010 by a vote of 488 to 137, with 72 abstentions,^[2] and took office the following day.^[3]

Work as European Commissioner[link]

Immediately after taking office, Georgieva took the responsibility for coordinating the European Union response to the humanitarian consequence of the Haiti earthquake . As result of her action the EU and was the primary humanitarian donor in the devastated country. Following this initial baptism by fire Georgieva has ensured EUs response in a number of crises and disasters that have struck the world in 2010. Her presence in the field – in Chile (2010 Chile earthquake) and Pakistan (2010 Pakistan floods) as a response to the natural disasters that have struck there; Sahel in relation to the ongoing food crisis threat; Darfur as a way to tackle a forgotten conflict; Kyrgyzstan as a reaction to a sudden onset conflict^[12] – along with timely and effective response to these crises, natural and man-made disasters has led to increased EU visibility. She has also worked to ensure an EU response, where disasters have struck within the Union – such as during the floods in Romania^[24] and Poland, the red mud sludge in Ajke, Hungar^[25] y and made sure that prevention and preparedness strategies are in place. In parallel to reacting to natural and man-made disasters, Georgieva has continued to make good progress the three declared priorities of her mandate: Building up EU’s Disaster Response capacity, creating the European Voluntary Humanitarian Aid Corps foreseen in the Lisbon Treaty and proceeding with the Mid-term review of European Union Humanitarian Aid Consensus’ Action plan. This work will pave the way for future legislative proposals.

As recognition of her work and her efficient reaction to the humanitarian crises of the year, Commissioner Georgieva has been nominated and on 20 November named as Commissioner of the Year in the 'Europeans of the Year 2010' awards,^[14] organised by the influential European Voice newspaper. She was also named European of the Year by European Voice.^[15] The winners are chosen on the basis of online voting , which is open until 31 October each year.^[16]

Georgieva, in discussing the situation in the Gaza Strip, said that she believes that the "humanitarian crisis...was artificially created because of the [Israeli] blockade," but added that the idea of a flotilla is not the correct action to take: "We are not in favor of attempts to help people in this way."^[26]

Personal life[link]

Kristalina Georgieva is married and has one child.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kristalina Georgieva

• Kristalina Georgieva Official Media Gallery
• Kristalina Georgieva on the World Bank website
• Official Facebook
• Official blog

v t e Barroso Commission II (since 2010) Joaquín Almunia2 · László Andor · Catherine Ashton2 · Michel Barnier · José Manuel Barroso1 · Dacian Cioloş · John Dalli · Maria Damanaki · Štefan Füle · Máire Geoghegan-Quinn · Kristalina Georgieva · Karel De Gucht · Johannes Hahn · Connie Hedegaard · Siim Kallas2 · Neelie Kroes2 · Janusz Lewandowski · Cecilia Malmström · Günther Oettinger · Andris Piebalgs · Janez Potočnik · Viviane Reding2 · Olli Rehn · Antonio Tajani2 · Androulla Vassiliou · Maroš Šefčovič2 · Algirdas Šemeta 1 = President. 2 = Vice President.