EDS Questionnaire

European Digital Stories Survey’s results

Project No 2013-1-TRI-COM06-47699-3

«European Digital Stories» Comenius project 2013/2015 Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Norway, Romania, Greece, Spain, Poland, France.

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As a way to assess the students’ knowledge and opinions about the European Union, 90 students ( 10 from each country) had to answer a questionnaire.

This survey included five topics : European history, European identity, European Enlargement, European mobility.

The students had to complete their answers on the website http://eustories.eu between the Italian and the Norwegian mobilities, that were in April and May.

Here are the results :

EUROPEAN HISTORY 1ST TOPIC

When was the European Union officially founded ?

Answer : 1957 Correct Incorrect

43% 57%

How many countries founded the EU ?

Answer : 6

Correct 27%

73%

Incorrect

Do you know when the Euro currency was introduced ?

Answer : 2002

Correct : 2002 Incorrect

46.20% 53.80%

How many countries are currently in the EU ?

Answer : 28

Correct Incorrect

20.50%

79.50%

Do you know which country joined last ?

Answer : Croatia

Correct

36.60%

63.40%

Incorrect

1ST TOPIC:EUROPEAN HISTORY According to these graphs , we can see that a lot of the students don't have a precise idea of the history of Europe. Yet they seem to be more aware of its actual shape.

EUROPEAN IDENTITY 2ND TOPIC

Which is the capital of the European Union ?

Answer : Brussels Correct Incorrect

17.20%

82.80%

Which is the motto of the European Union ?

Answer : "United in diversity"

Correct Incorrect

39%

61%

How many stars are there on the EU flag ?

Correct Answer : 12

Incorrect

24.90%

75.10%

The Euro currency has strengthened the European position in the world market.

Agree

Disagree

I don’t know

25%

17%

58%

Richness of cultures (...)

Makes the EU more interesting and stronger

Creates a lot of problems and weakens the EU Not answered 1% 19%

80%

2ND TOPIC: EUROPEAN IDENTITY

Most of the students can recognize some characteristics of the European identity and see the Union as an added cultural and economical richness

EUROPEAN ENLARGEMENT 3RD TOPIC

Do you agree with a further enlargement of the EU? Yes

No

Without opinion

Not answered

2%

29%

54%

15%

Would the enlargement of the EU to countries with different religious traditions change the European identity ?

Yes No

2%

Without opinion

Not answered

20%

35%

43%

Which are the biggest advantages of joining the EU ?

Travelling in the EU area without a visa Accessing funds for education, sport and youth Using the national currency in most of the countries of the EU Not answered

1%

23%

41%

35%

The enlargement of the European Union...

Enriches Europe’s cultural diversity Makes cultural identities and traditions disappear

2%

Not answered 26%

72%

3RD TOPIC: EUROPEAN ENLARGEMENT A majority of students estimates that the changes created by the EU are positive and they seem to approve its further enlargement

EUROPEAN MOBILITY 4th TOPIC

The EU borders are .... to all countries in Europe Correct

Answer : opened

Incorrect

9%

91%

Students’ mobility in the EU improves their skills

makes them lose their national identity

1%

17% 7%

75%

I don’t know

Not answered

What is the Schengen Area ?

Answer : An area with the freedom of movement of the European citizens Correct Incorrect

48% 52%

The EU projects are ‌. useful because everybody in Europe can have opportunity to travel and know more about other countries’cultures dangerous because the borders of the countries are opened to any danger coming from outside Not answered

11%

5%

84%

The EU encourages mobility in Europe agree

disagree

13%

I don’t know

1%

5%

81%

Not answered

4th TOPIC: EUROPEAN MOBILITY

According to these graphs, the students seem to be aware of the luck that the opening of borders gives to people as regards mobility and exchanges between people.

EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP 5th TOPIC

The universal EU citizenship will make the EU stronger

will not change anything

26%

59%

15%

I don’t know

What are the values promoted in the EU states ?

Answer : Tolerance, justice, solidarity, democracy.

2%

Correct Incorrect

98%

Do you believe that being part of the EU could limit the cultural identity and the traditions of your country ?

Yes No

17%

I don’t know 33%

50%

When people from a EU country move to another EU country, do you think they are treated in the same way ?

Yes Not always

16% 18%

No

66%

How many official languages are there in the EU ?

Correct Incorrect

Answer : 24

45% 55%

5th TOPIC: EUROPEAN CITIZENSHIP

We can see, here, that most of the students know the values advocated by the EU and its stakes as regards citizenship.