What do European citizens see as their primary problem, and how does this vary between countries and over time? Extant research suggests that what citizens see as their most important problem (MIP) determines what issues receive attention and which are legitimate areas of government intervention. This paper uses responses to the “Most Important Problem” question in the Eurobarometer from 2002 to 2015 to explore how countries’ problem issues have converged and diverged over time, including the recession, and what potential affects this might have on political representation in Europe. It also explores what economic concerns dominated in Europe during this time. It is conceivable that in a Europe where domestic political issues are consistently drifting apart, the political union will be harder to hold together.
