Key findings on issues affecting the transatlantic relationship from a Pew Research Center survey on thought leaders

1. Thought Leader Survey:
Issues Impacting the Transatlantic
Relationship
Bruce Stokes
Director, Global Economic Attitudes March 2018

2. March 9, 2018 2
Pew Research Center
• Established 1996
• Funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, foundations
• Non-profit, non-partisan fact tank in Washington
• Research topics:
U.S. politics
Media and the news
Social trends
Religion
Internet and technology
Science
Hispanics
Global public opinion and migration
• www.pewresearch.org
www.pewresearch.org

3. March 9, 2018 3www.pewresearch.org
Methodology
• Results of online survey, conducted from January 22 to March 1, 2018
• Respondents include Brussels Forum invitees and alumni of GMF’s Marshall
Memorial Fellowship, Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders (TILN), Manfred Wörner
Seminar (MWS) or American Political Science Association (APSA)
• 80 invitees, 293 alumni: 373 total respondents

4. March 9, 2018 4www.pewresearch.org
Confidence in World Leaders
Note: Statistically significant differences in bold.
Confidence in __ to do the right thing regarding world affairs
TOTAL Americans Europeans Difference
% % %
Angela Merkel 93 96 92 +4
Emmanuel Macron 89 89 88 +1
Theresa May 43 66 29 +37
Xi Jinping 38 33 41 -8
Donald Trump 9 6 12 -6
Vladimir Putin 7 1 10 -9

5. March 9, 2018 5
Transatlantic Relations: Will They Get Better or Worse?
Over the next 12 months,
relations between Europe and
the U.S. will get worse when it
comes to…
(2017)
Over the past 12 months,
relations between Europe and
the U.S. have gotten worse
when it comes to…
(2018)
% %
Economic issues TOTAL 62 60
Americans 60 66
Europeans 65 58
Diplomatic issues TOTAL 77 84
Americans 78 91
Europeans 77 80
Security issues TOTAL 62 66
Americans 65 78
Europeans 62 60
www.pewresearch.org

6. March 9, 2018 6
Hope for Progress on Climate Change
Now that the U.S. has said it will pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement …
35%
26
39
65%
74
60
TOTAL
Americans
Europeans
Significant progress in addressing global
climate change will not be possible without the
U.S. being involved
Even without the U.S., it is still possible
to make significant progress in
addressing global climate change
www.pewresearch.org

7. March 9, 2018 7
Transatlantic Disagreement on What to Do About Fake
News and Who Should Do It
55%
49
61
42%
47
36
Social media networks should be
regulated to address the spread of
false information, even if it might limit
free speech
Free speech online should be
protected, even if it means there
might be false information shared on
social media
Governments
Private companies, such as
Google, Twitter or Facebook
Which statement comes closer to your opinion, even if neither is exactly right?
TOTAL
TOTAL
Americans
Americans
Europeans
Europeans
Among those who say social media should be regulated,
__ should hold the primary responsibility for regulating social media networks
50%
47
55
49%
53
45
www.pewresearch.org

8. March 9, 2018 8
The Biggest Challenges for the Transatlantic Relationship
Note: Figures represent open-ended responses coded into topical categories. Multiple answers allowed.
Over the next 12 months, what will be the biggest
challenge for relations between Europe and the U.S.?
24%
23
14
Shared
values/Trust
Trump/Current U.S.
administration
Economy/Trade 15%
29
15
28%
20
14
TOTAL Americans Europeans
www.pewresearch.org

9. March 9, 2018 9
Americans vs. Europeans on Biggest Opportunities for
Transatlantic Relationship
Note: Figures represent open-ended responses coded into topical categories. Multiple answers allowed.
Over the next 12 months, what will be the best
opportunity for cooperation between Europe and the U.S.?
17%
12
9
9
Russia
Strengthening ties
outside natl. govt.
Security
(non-terrorism)
Shared
values/Trust
Americans Europeans
18%
14
11
Security
(terrorism)
Security
(non-terrorism)
Economy/Trade
www.pewresearch.org

10. March 9, 2018 10www.pewproject.org
Views on Relations with Russia
73% 4%Not tough enough Too tough
93 5
Did try
to influence
Did not try
to influence
88 11Concerned Not concerned
In his dealings with
Russia, President
Trump has been…
___ about Russia
trying to influence
elections in Europe
The Russian
government ___ the
2016 election

11. March 9, 2018 11www.pewproject.org
Views on U.S. Foreign Policy
63% 11%Less likely More likely
80 2Harder Easier
65 8
Bad for stability
in the region
Good for stability
in the region
The U.S. approach to North
Korea has made an agreement
regarding North Korea's nuclear
weapons program…
The U.S. moving its
embassy to Jerusalem will
make resolving the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict…
The U.S. approach to Iran
has been…

12. All Pew Research Center reports are available
online at www.pewresearch.org
Bruce Stokes
Director, Global Economic Attitudes
@bruceestokes