According to a recent Eurobarometer survey conducted by the European Parliament, there is a significant increase in the intention to vote in the upcoming 2024 European

elections compared to five years ago. This is a noteworthy development considering that a considerable proportion of Europeans express dissatisfaction with their standard of living and believe that their countries and the European Union are not heading in the right direction.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and high inflation has taken its toll on public sentiment. The survey reveals that 50 percent of EU citizens believe their standard of living has declined, and an additional 29 percent fear that this trend will continue in the next year. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of EU citizens express dissatisfaction with their government's efforts to address longevity issues, and 57 percent are dissatisfied with the EU's actions in this regard.

Despite these concerns, there remains a sense of hope and expectation that the European Union can deliver positive outcomes. Philipp Schulmeister, responsible for monitoring public opinion in the European Parliament, notes that although people feel the impact on their finances, they still believe in the potential of the European Union to make a difference.

The survey also indicates that interest in the 2024 European elections is not diminishing. Approximately 67 percent of respondents stated that they would likely vote if the elections were held next week. In comparison, a year before the 2019 European elections, only 58 percent expressed the same intention. Notably, in Belgium, where voting is compulsory, 73 percent of respondents affirmed their likelihood to vote in the hypothetical scenario of the elections being held next week.

The growing interest in the upcoming European elections suggests that despite the challenges faced, citizens remain engaged and hopeful about the potential for positive change through their participation in the democratic process.