European citizens seem to be mobilising for the June 4 to 7 European elections, says a TNS Opinion survey commissioned by the European Parliament, according to a May 27 2009 statement on the EP website  .

The numbers saying that they plan to vote is clearly up on previous surveys, even though doubts remain as to whether they will in fact do so, the statement said.

Interest in the elections also seems stronger, according to the poll, which was done from May 4 to 15. In recent days, a number of voices have been raised urging people to turn out to vote lest far-right and other fringe and extremist parties benefit from a low turnout.

The poll indicates that unemployment (57 per cent) and the economy (45 per cent ) still top the list of Europeans' concerns.

Next come insecurity (32 per cent), and the future of pensions (31 per cent), which now come well ahead of inflation, purchasing power, and other broad concerns such as climate change and terrorism.
 
The poll points to a 49 per cent turnout, up from 34 per cent in the previous Eurobarometer survey (January and February).
 
Forty-three per cent of respondents said they were certain to vote and a further six per cent said they were very likely to do so. Twelve per cent seem certain not to vote, down from 19 per cent at the start of the year.
 
The European Parliament statement said that the survey did not provide a firm forecast of the June 4 to 7 election results.
 
"Its findings suggest that the number of citizens planning to vote is growing, but there is no guarantee that the turnout rate will be equivalent to that of 2004," the statement said.
 
The May poll found that 53 per cent of Europeans were interested in the elections, and 46 per cent were not. At the start of the year, 44 per cent were interested and 53 per cent were not.