68% of 16-18 year-olds say no to re-introduction of EU Constitution

James Gubb, 13 March 2007

In a survey conducted last Thursday (8th March) at the annual Civitas Sixth Form Conference on the European Union, 68% of 16-18 year olds revealed that they would vote against ‘a Constitutional treaty that gives the EU legal personality’ (i.e. the power to make international agreements by itself, or on behalf of member states).
Significantly, 54% of students also responded that ‘the UK should stay in the EU, but push for a looser relationship, based on free trade and intergovernmental cooperation’, when asked which of the following statements came closest to their own view:
a. The UK should support further EU integration, giving more power to EU institutions. (19%)
b. The UK should stay in the EU and push for a looser relationship, based on free trade and intergovernmental cooperation. (54%)
c. The UK should support maintaining the status quo in the EU. (8%)
d. The UK should withdraw from the EU. (13%)
e. Don’t know. (6%)

Only 19% of respondents thought the UK should cede more power to EU institutions, flying in the face of the current trend in the EU towards ‘ever closer union’. Moreover, only 8% supported maintaining the status quo in the EU; presumably reflecting a widespread dissatisfaction with the way the EU is currently working.
The survey polled the 593 Sixth Form students, largely studying either Politics or Economics at A-level, who attended the annual Civitas National 6th Form Conference on the EU, which included speakers such as Charles Grant (CER), Austin Mitchell MP, Ken Clarke QC MP and Lord Pearson of Rannoch. This voluntary survey received 176 responses (a 30% response rate).
When the students were asked more specifically whether they thought national governments or the EU should be primarily responsible for a number of different policy areas, only in energy policy, the environment and trade did a majority of students answer the EU. In economics and monetary affairs; agriculture; development; foreign and security policy; criminal justice; taxation; and education over two-thirds said national governments should be primarily responsible for policy. In fact, on economic & monetary affairs and on taxation the number of students in favour of national governments taking primary responsibility was as high as 79% and 85% respectively.
This was supported by the fact that in a separate question, 83% of students responded that Britain should not join the euro – a vindication of the government’s decision to stay out.
50% of students were, however, in favour of further enlargement. This is perhaps a reflection of the fact that enlargement has been one of the EU’s major success stories and that further enlargement is likely to be effective only in a dramatically reformed European Union.
What should be taken from this survey? Yes, admittedly it’s a small sample, but 118 of the 176 students surveyed were sceptical of the EU. This is not insignificant. Young people are not as pro-EU as they are often assumed to be.
Full survey results:
1. Which of the following comes closest to your own view?
a. The UK should support further EU integration, giving more power to EU institutions. (19%)
b. The UK should stay in the EU and push for a looser relationship, based on free trade and intergovernmental cooperation. (54%)
c. The UK should support maintaining the status quo in the EU. (8%)
d. The UK should withdraw from the EU. (13%)
e. Don’t know. (6%) Respondents: 176
2. Do you think that national governments or the EU should be primarily responsible for policy regarding:
National EU Respondents
a. Agriculture 66% 34% 158
b. Development 66% 34% 163
c. Economic & Monetary affairs 79% 21% 162
d. Energy 40% 60% 164
e. Environment 23% 77% 163
f. Foreign and Security Policy 67% 33% 160
g. Criminal Justice 72% 28% 162
h. Taxation 85% 15% 162
i. Education 87% 13% 165
j. Trade 30% 70% 162
3. Should the EU continue to enlarge, by taking on new member states?
Yes (50%)
No (36%)
Don’t know (14%) Respondents: 171
4. Would you vote for or against a Constitutional treaty that gives the EU ‘legal personality’*?
For (16%)
Against (68%)
Don’t know (16%) Respondents: 172
* Would give the EU power to make international agreements by itself, on behalf of member states.
5. Should Britain join the euro?
Yes (12%)
No (83%)
Don’t know (5%) Respondents: 171