Eurobarometer 45.1: European Union Rights, Sun Exposure, Work Safety, and Privacy Issues, April-May 1996

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This round of Eurobarometer surveys queried respondents on standard Eurobarometer measures, such as whether they attempted to persuade others close to them to share their views on subjects they held strong opinions about, whether they discussed political matters, and what the EU's goals should be for the next ten years. Additional questions focused on the respondents' knowledge of and opinions on the European Union (EU), including how well-informed they felt about the EU, what sources of information about the EU they used, whether their country had benefited from being an EU member, and the extent of their personal interest in EU matters. Another major focus of the surveys was the rights of EU citizens as well as issues of work safety, sun exposure, and personal interviews. Respondents were asked about their knowledge of and the importance of rights such as traveling, working, buying, investing, studying, voting, and receiving medical care anywhere in the EU. Respondents provided further interpretation as to the meaning of some rights by indicating whether the right to live anywhere includes the right to permanently relocate, work, vote, or retire, if the right to work anywhere includes the right to set up a business, receive unemployment, receive retirement pay, or work as a civil servant, if the right to study includes equal access to schools, universities, scholarships, or exchange programs, and if purchasing rights include the right to buy any amount of goods for personal or other use. Questions concerning work safety asked respondents about their satisfaction with steps taken to guarantee health and safety in the workplace and whether employers, government inspectors, worker representatives, company committees, or individual workers should contribute more or less in order to reduce work accidents or work-related illnesses. Responses were also elicited regarding whether health and safety in the workplace contribute to worker efficiency, benefits for the people, economic benefits, and costs that are difficult for the employer to cover. Issues surrounding interviewing and personal data were also investigated. Respondents were asked if interviewing is a proper scientific tool, whether the interview format allows people to express their opinions, and whether it enables decision-makers to take people's views into account. Respondents were also asked if interviewing represents a form of intrusion and whether people need legal protection against the misuse of data. Respondents also indicated whether they thought individuals should have the decision as to whether their personal information can be passed on to someone else. Respondents' attitudes and opinions about sun exposure were also probed. Questions included whether respondents thought sun exposure was good or bad for their health, how best to protect themselves from the sun, and what type of skin, eye color, and hair color they had. Questions also examined respondents' opinions on European currency. Demographic and other background information provided includes respondent's age, sex, marital status, and left-right political self-placement, as well as household income, the number of people residing in the home, and region of residence.