A EUROPEAN UNION WIDE WELFARE SCHEME Explanations of attitudes towards a welfare scheme at EU-level

Abstract

In recent time, the social dimension has gained attention at the agenda of the European Union, since the new Commission lead by Ursula von der Leyen put forward her political priorities, where one of them is to create a more social Europe. This thesis analyses the various explanations there are for the attitudes that the European electorate have towards a common European welfare scheme. It does so by analysing data from the European social survey, round 8, in a multilevel regression. The results of the thesis indicate that the best explanation to the attitudes towards a European welfare scheme is that those who are in favour of European integration, are also more in favour of a European Union wide social benefit scheme. Other explanations towards the welfare is that those that define themselves as ideologically to the right, are also opposed to a European welfare scheme, as well as those that have a high salary. This in turn indicates that the attitudes that voters have towards a welfare scheme at EU level is mainly a question of further European integration and not a question of welfare policies.