The EU Neighbourhood Barometer
The EU Neighbourhood Barometer is a regional, cross-national comparative series of six regular surveys conducted between 2012 and 2014. They were commissioned by the European Commission, DG Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations and implemented by a consortium led by TNS opinion. The surveys cover 16 of the European Union's closest Eastern and Southern neighbouring countries, the 'European Neighbourhood countries and territories', plus Russia. The samples were drawn from the resident population in each country, aged 15 years and over, using a multistage probability sampling combined with quota selection in the household. In each country and for each survey approximately 1000 interviews were conducted face-to-face.
The EU Neighbourhood Barometer offers a unique source of comparative information on the perception of living conditions, political issues and political efficacy across the region. The perception of the image of and the relations with the European Union is covered by another part of the standard questionnaire. Intermittently the programme addresses special topics such as globalization, environmental issues, employment, civil society or media habits.
Surveys, topics and data access
The repeated cross-section surveys were conducted in six waves, between 2012 and 2014, in the Southern and Eastern EU Neighbourhood countries, from Morocco to Lebanon (Syria was not surveyed), and from Azerbaijan to Belarus, plus Russia. The micro data files and the related documentation are made available for re-use in Social Science research through the GESIS search.
- EU Neighbourhood Barometer Wave 1 (July-August 2012) - special focus on media use [doi:10.4232/1.12410]
- EU Neighbourhood Barometer Wave 2 (November-December 2012) - special focus on globalisation, crisis, environment and energy issues [doi:10.4232/1.12412]
- EU Neighbourhood Barometer Wave 3 (Spring 2013) - special focus on civil society and employment [doi:10.4232/1.12459]
- EU Neighbourhood Barometer Wave 4 (Autumn 2013) - special focus on mobility and migration [doi:10.4232/1.12497]
- EU Neighbourhood Barometer Wave 5 (Spring 2014) - special focus on media use [doi:10.4232/1.12524]
- EU Neighbourhood Barometer Wave 6 (Autumn 2014) - special focus on culture and cultural activities [doi:10.4232/1.12498]
Available weighting adjustments
For each of the participating countries a comparison between the sample composition and a proper universe description is carried out for the preparation of post-stratification weights (redressment). The universe description is based on quotas drawn from national statistics. As such in all countries, gender, age, region and size of locality (rural/urban) are introduced in the iteration procedure. The application of the demographic country weight (W1) is recommended for descriptive analysis on country level.
The population size weighting factors correct for the fact that most countries have almost identical sample sizes, no matter how large or small their populations are. These weights ensure that each country is represented in proportion to its population size within different country groupings (East, South, Maghreb, Mashrek). The population size weights (W2 to W6) are mandatory for descriptive analysis on the respective country group level (e.g. results for Eastern countries as a whole). The population size weights do not include the post-stratification weighting factors. The combined application of both weighting factors requires previous multiplication of the appropriate population size weight by the demographic country weight, as requested.
Survey reports and fact sheets
The official survey reports and fact sheets are made available through the EU Neighbourhood Library.