The Flash Eurobarometer 550* was conducted in June/July 2024. 1000 people were surveyed for the sub-study for Germany. The focus was on the European Union. On the one hand, the "biggest challenges currently facing the EU" and, on the other hand, the "biggest global challenges for the future of the EU" were asked. The respondents were given a list of ten such challenges and asked to select "up to three" of them.
The main challenges facing the EU today:
- The war in Ukraine 49%
- Irregular migration 40%
- Environmental problems and climate change 36%
- Terrorism and security problems 34%
- Cost of living 27%
- Social inequalities 24%
- The conflict in the Middle East 22%
- Disinformation and manipulation of information 18%
- Insufficient economic growth 17%
- Impact of digital technologies on society 6%
The main global challenges for the future of the EU
- Conflicts in the world 44%
- Climate change and environmental problems 43%
- Irregular migration 39%
- Terrorism 28%
- Breakdown of global relations between countries 27%
- Cyber and hybrid threats and new forms of conflict 23%
- Risk of the EU losing its economic independence 23%
- Organised crime 20%
- Decrease in the proportion of the European population living in the World 9%
- Risks arising from new technologies 9%
Not only the challenges at the top of the list are noteworthy, but also those that are seen as challenges much less often. Admittedly, the question was asked about the "currently biggest" or the "biggest global" challenges. This sets the bar very high. And the fact that issues such as war, environmental problems and climate change are given such a high priority is very understandable given the objective situation. But it is nevertheless striking that at the other end of the scale, possible consequences of digitalization are comparatively rarely seen as challenges. This may be because the "digital technologies" mentioned in the question remain abstract, i.e. no catchy examples are given; but at a time when AI is changing society and the economy very significantly, this reticence is certainly remarkable.
I would consider it positive per se that digital and new technologies are comparatively rarely seen as challenges by the population, as this implicitly expresses a positive attitude towards innovation and technological progress, and we need this progress for reasons of international competitiveness. In addition, digital innovations, for example, also offer their users their own advantages. But given the enormous potential of artificial intelligence to change society, it would probably be just as advisable not to underestimate the risks associated with AI.
*Source (dataset): European Commission: Flash Eurobarometer 550: EU challenges and priorities, June-July 2024. Ipsos European Public Affairs [Producer]; GESIS Data Archive: ZA8870, dataset version 1.0.0. (2024), doi: 10.4232/1.14410. The survey was conducted from June 25th to July 2nd, 2024. Quota sample. The frequency distributions here are weighted "w1" as intended for this dataset.