Electronic Data Center : Central and Eastern European Eurobarometer Holdings

What is the Central and Eastern Eurobarometer Series? The Central and Eastern Eurobarometer (CEEB) surveys were begun in 1990, when nationally representative surveys were undertaken on behalf of the European Commission in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the Soviet Union. The surveys, which explored individuals' attitudes toward democratic and economic reform, were carried out in the autumn of each year through 1997 in up to 20 countries of the region. An extension of the Eurobarometer series conducted semi-annually in the member nations of the European Union (EU), the Central and Eastern Eurobarometers also focused on public support for the EU and on other issues facing Europe as a whole. After the first wave of research, the number of countries was variably expanded to reflect then-current political alignments and realities of access for survey researchers. In each of the countries surveyed, approximately 1,000 persons aged 15 and over were interviewed in their own homes. The last CEEB was administered in 1997. Starting in 2001, a new survey series entitled the Candidate Countries Eurobarometers replaced the CEEB; these studies have started to become available for public use.

Notes for Users: Below you will find a list of all CEEB and Candidate-Country survey files that are in the Electronic Data Center's holdings. Each list provides the title and year of the survey along with a brief blurb about the specifics of this particular study's contents. Each study has one or more particular themes or topics of investigation. These themes oftentimes focus on questions related to the European Union, but sometimes delve into slightly less political-economic topics. These studies are modeled after the standard Eurobarometer surveys, so anyone interested in using the CEEB should also refer to the Eurobarometer holdings page. Finally, the sample of countries included in each survey varies, so users should consult the codebooks for details on the sampling procedures.

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer 1: Public Opinion in Central and Eastern Europe, 1990. This survey attempts to capture the awareness and opinions of political/economic reforms in their countries. In addition, it queries respondents about the European Union, the reunification of Germany, and their satisfaction with democratic reforms in their country. Also asks about how they might vote in the next general election.

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer 2: Current Affairs and the Media, September-October 1991. Respondents were asked about political/economic reforms in their country, whether they were heading in the right direction and going too fast or too slow, and how they might vote in a hypothetical election. Finally, questions were included about the European Union, their country's potential membership in the EU, and how strongly the respondent identified with Europe.

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer 3: Political Disintegration, October-November 1992. This survey continues to include questions on satisfaction with reforms, perceptions of Europe and the EU, and protection for human rights and minorities within their countries. Respondents are also asked to indicate hypothetical voting behavior.

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer 4: Political and Economic Change, November 1993. This survey asks many of the same trend questions included on previous CEEB studies. Includes questions about personal and national economic conditions.

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer 5: European Union, November 1994. This survey continues the trend questions asked in the previous rounds of the survey. It adds questions asking respondents about which countries their own country's future is most closely tied to and about which groups in society would benefit/suffer from closer ties to the EU.

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer 6: Economic and Political Trends, October-November 1995. This survey includes questions asked in the previous surveys. It adds questions about how the respondent might vote if a referendum were held over EU or NATO membership or in a general election.

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer 7: Status of the European Union, October-November 1996. This survey includes many of the same questions from previous surveys. It also includes the questions asked in the previous round about hypothetical voting behavior in an EU or NATO membership referendum, or in a general election held the next day.

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer 8: Public Opinion and the European Union, October-November 1997. This survey includes many of the same questions asked in previous rounds. It also includes questions about voting in a membership referendum for NATO or the EU, and how NATO membership would affect their support for EU membership.

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer 1990-1997: Trends CEEB 1-8. This file was compiled from the eight CEEB surveys conducted during 1990-1997. It is a "trend" file that addresses general topics such as attitudes towards the European Union and economic reforms and specific topics such as attitudes towards the market economy, democratic reform, NATO membership, and the potential benefits from EU membership.

Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2001.1, October 2001. This survey is the first in series of Eurobarometers conducted in countries that were (at the time) applying for membership in the Union. Respondents were queried on such topics as political participation, trust in institutions, national and European identity, and media access. Respondents were further questioned on EU-related issues such as membership, enlargement, and unification (accession).

Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2002.2, September-October 2002. This survey queried respondents on matters such as life satisfaction and expecations as well as topics such as views of foreigners, national v. European identity, and satisfaction with democratic government. There were also questions on the EU in terms of its priorities and policies and its enlargment.

Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2002.3, October-November 2002: New Europeans and Agriculture.This study focused on the agricultural policies of the EU and their impacts (real or potential) on farmers in candidate countries, with questions addressing matters such as public support for agriculture, the impact of EU membership on farmers in candidate countries, and the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.

Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2002.3, October-November 2002: Science and Technology.Respondents to this survey were asked about their knowledge of and attitudes towards the sciences (broadly defined), both at a general level and with regard to specific topics such as air pollution, genetically-modified foods, and "mad cow disease." There were also questions about public funding for research in the sciences, both at the national and European levels.

Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2003.1, March-May 2003. This wave focused on youth in the candidate countries in terms of their acitivites and social/political attitudes. There were also questions on the EU's importance and priorities.

Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2003.2, May 2003. Respondents in this survey were asked about a combination of national and European issues. National issues included topics such as crime, inflation, and taxation. European issues included topics such as EU foreign and defense policies and EU constitutional reform. There were also questions on matters such as national v. European identities, political participation, and satisfaction with democratic government.

Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2003.3, June-July 2003. This round of surveys focused on the European Union more specifically in terms of its institutions, policies, and role in the world (including its relationship with the United States). Respondents were also asked about more general matters such as immigration and public services.

Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2003.4, October-November 2003. Respondents in this round were asked more questions about topics such as life satisfaction, political participation, national and European identity, fraud in the Union, and various EU policies and institutions.

Candidate Countries Eurobarometer 2004.1, February-March 2004. This Eurobarometer asked respondents about the European Union (e.g. EU enlargement, EU institutions and policies, benefits of EU membership), health care (e.g. health care systems in respondents' countries, respondents' personal health situations), and interet usage (e.g. protecting children from harmful internet content).

Central and Eastern Eurobarometer Holdings and Descriptions