An Elcano survey reflects that the European identity of the Spanish is notably more intense than that of the French
MADRID, 24 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Two-thirds of Spaniards believe that the economic situation will worsen in the next twelve months, 27 percent believe that it will remain the same and only 7 percent see improvement in forecasts, according to a survey by the Elcano Royal Institute and Diálogo (Association of Spanish-French Friendship) that examines the similarities and differences between Spanish and French before the European Union and in the context of the war in Ukraine.
The view of the French on this matter is quite similar: 60 percent predict that the economic situation will worsen, 34 percent think that it will remain the same and 6 percent that it will get better. Thus, there is only one point of difference between the most optimistic in both countries.
Linking this issue to ideology, this study shows that the most pessimistic regarding the economic future both in France and in Spain are those who identify themselves ideologically in the space of opposition to the Government.
Specifically, 77 percent of Spaniards who identify with the right predict a worsening of the situation, compared to 70 percent of Spaniards from the center and 50 percent of Spaniards from the left.
In the French case, a percentage of 62 percent coincides with the space on the right and left that considers that the forecast will evolve negatively. Instead, only half of the French center believes that the situation will get worse.
The previous edition of this survey already reflected that the Spanish and French have different types of national identity. Those from the Gallic country feel, in the first place, of their country, after their city and their region, and far behind, with a difference of 2.5 points on the scale from 0 to 10, of Europe.
The feeling of local belonging increases in Spaniards who, first, feel they belong to their city or region (7.4 points), to a lesser extent, to their country (7 points) and, finally, Europeans. However, this European identity is very close in intensity to the other three, with a difference of only 0.8 points between the European and the local identity.
Elcano, in this sense, reflects that the European identity of the Spanish is notably more intense than that of the French (6.6 points compared to 4.9 on the 0-10 scale).
Territorial identity has a different relationship with ideology in France and in Spain. In France, the left feels more identified with Europe than the right, while in Spain the opposite occurs, with the left showing greater disinterest in the EU. Of course, in both countries the national identity is weaker on the left.
In line with their greater identification with the EU, the Spanish are much more favorable than the French to increasing the powers of the EU, a position defended by almost a third of the Spanish compared to a fifth of the French. Overall, 59 percent of Spaniards are in favor of increasing or maintaining the current powers of the EU, compared to 44 percent of the French.
However, in the Gallic country more than a quarter, 26 percent, are in favor of returning powers to the States, a position that in Spain only 16 percent of those surveyed defend.
In relation to community competences, in all areas, the Spanish are much more favorable than the French to these policies being the competence of the EU, while the French are much more divided on this issue.
Specifically, 72 percent of Spaniards consider that Security and Defense policies should belong to the EU, compared to 42 percent of French people. In the field of foreign policy, the percentages are lower: 64 percent and 39 percent, respectively. In immigration and asylum, 65 percent of Spaniards defend that they are from the EU, compared to 38 percent of the French. And, finally, in terms of Internet security, in Spain 73 percent prefer that the powers be community, a position defended in France by 58 percent of those surveyed.
