Cross Road Elections: Change in EU Performance Evaluations during the European Parliament Elections 2014

Abstract

The 2014 European Parliament (EP) elections were held after a period where public opinion about the EU changed significantly. In this paper we investigate evaluations of the performance of the European Union, as this dimension of EU attitudes is particularly relevant ahead of elections. We look at public opinion developments since 2009 and then zoom in on the role played by the news media in shaping public opinion about EU performance by linking citizens' evaluations across time to the news media content they were exposed to. The article relies on original multiple wave survey panel data and a systematic media content analysis in the Netherlands. It shows how public opinion has changed, how it changes around EP elections, and how exposure to media coverage can help improve citizens' evaluations of EU performance.

Knowing is not loving: media effects on knowledge about and attitudes toward the EU

“…While we can only speculate about this potential disillusioneffect here, it tallies with the democratic deficit hypothesis (Norris 2011). Performancerelated EU attitudes seem to be easily affected by new incoming information, and are prone to change under the influence of short-term eventsan explanation that is in line with the underlying theory of the respective attitude dimension (e.g., Boomgaarden et al 2011;de Vreese, Azrout, and Moeller 2016). Therefore, at least in the context under investigation here and with regard to what the European Union actually does, 'to know it' certainly does not mean 'to love it' (Karp, Banducci, and Bowler 2003).…”

“…Still, critics evaluate information shortfalls as a serious threat to EU legitimacy, especially if they coincide with a citizenry that lacks the motivation and/or ability to make use of the available information (Clark 2014; but see Tillman 2012 for an opposing argument). Yet, research clearly demonstrates that media can provide citizens with substantive information (Barabas and Jerit, 2009;Delli Carpini and Keeter 1996): De Vreese and Boomgaarden (2006) discuss how information-rich environments are better able to educate citizens, and show how news media may affect attitudes toward the European Union, specifically altering individuals' perceptions of the EU's performance and efficiency (see also de Vreese, Azrout, and Moeller 2016). Along similar lines, Semetko, van der Brug, and Valkenburg (2003) found media reporting to significantly alter individuals' supranational-idealistic attitudes toward the EU (i.e., the way citizens are, for example, willing 'to make personal sacrifices to help other European peoples', Semetko, van der Brug, and Valkenburg 2003, 628).…”

“…The Bratislava summit, similar to other events on the level of the European Union, potentially increases media coverage, which makes it easier for citizens to observe the EU 'in action'. Based on existing work (de Vreese, Azrout, and Moeller 2016;Elenbaas et al 2012;Karp, Banducci, and Bowler 2003), we therefore believe performance evaluations to be particularly susceptible to information presented in the media, especially if this information leads to an increase in knowledge about specific EU-related events. In line with this argument, it can be assumed that EU performance evaluations fluctuate in line with actual performance of the Union (de Vreese, Azrout, and Moeller 2016)provided that individuals do, in fact, know about this performance.…”

“…Second, and central to this study, we argue that knowledge about the outcomes of such meetings (i.e., eventspecific information) which citizens obtain via the media affects their evaluation of the EU's performance. After all, 'EU summits are central events in European politics [and] precisely the sort of political event that ought to inform the public about key manifestations of EU performance' (Elenbaas et al 2012, 729, emphasis added; see also de Vreese, Azrout, and Moeller 2016). We focus our investigation on citizens' judgment of the efficiency of the EU's decision-making process and its democratic performance, and test whether knowledge gains affect European Union performance evaluations.…”

EU issue voting and the 2014 European Parliament elections: a dynamic perspective

“…EP election campaigns temporarily increase the salience of and polarization over EU issues in the media (Boomgaarden and De Vreese 2016;Boomgaarden et al 2013). Despite actual EP election campaigns being relatively short, media visibility of EU issues gradually builds up over the months leading up to the elections (De Vreese, Azrout, and Moeller 2016). Hence, the effect of EU attitudes on EP vote preferences should grow stronger when EP elections are coming closer.…”