Global Vision/ICM Poll on elements of new EU Treaty (with referendum question)

Summary

In June 2007 Global Vision commissioned an ICM poll on the public’s attitudes to possible elements of a new EU Treaty and whether or not there should be a referendum on the new Treaty.

Concerning possible, and contentious, elements of a new Treaty, reaction was mixed but, on balance, mainly negative.

Respondents were against:

The further reduction of vetoes (balance against 5%)
Making it easier to pass new laws by reducing the proportion of votes required (balance against 19%)
A Common Foreign and Security Policy, run by EU institutions (balance against 21%)
An EU Foreign Minister (balance against 14%)
The creation of an elected full-time EU President (balance against 24%)

But there was support for EU institutions deciding how police forces & courts cooperate (a positive balance of 4%) and the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights (a positive balance of 32%).

People were also asked if there should be a referendum on a new Treaty. An overwhelming majority – 80% – said there should be; only 15% said there should not be.

Results

Question 1: As you may be aware, a new treaty between members of the EU will be discussed at the next EU leaders summit in June. For each of the following proposals, please tell me whether you think the British Government should or not sign up to it? NET % saying Britain should NOT sign up to...

Option	% response (NET/NOT)
The removal of further vetoes, that enable any single member state to block new legislation	5%
Making it easier for the EU to agree legislation by reducing the proportion of votes needed to pass new laws	19%
Creating a Common European Foreign & Defence policy, decided by EU institutions	21%
Creating an EU Foreign Minister, who represents all EU countries in international negotiations	14%
EU institutions deciding how police forces & courts cooperate	-4%
The EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights	-32%
Elected full-time President	24%

Question 2: If the UK did sign up to any of these proposals (see question 1), do you think there should or should not be a referendum in this country before they became law?

Option	% response
Should	80%
Should not	15%
Don’t know	5%

Download the full ICM Poll

Technical note
These polls were conducted by ICM Research on behalf of Global Vision. The fieldwork, on 1012 respondents, was conducted on 1-3 June 2007.

RL, June 2007