Performance satisfaction, perceived EU fairness and support for social Europe

Perceptions of fairness represent a critical yet underexplored dimension of output legitimacy and public support for the European Union (EU). This paper examines the determinants and consequences of citizens’ fairness perceptions within the context of the EU’s expanding role in social policy. It distinguishes between two dimensions of fairness—procedural fairness, referring to political decision-making processes, and utilitarian fairness, relating to tangible policy outcomes—measured through original survey items. The analysis relies on comparative survey data collected in 2019 and 2025, allowing for both diachronic and cross-national assessments of fairness perceptions. Moreover, the paper investigates how citizens’ evaluations of the EU’s crisis management—relative to national governments—shape these perceptions, and how, in turn, fairness assessments influence preferences for greater EU authority in key policy domains. Overall, the study contributes to the literature on EU political legitimacy by deepening our understanding of how citizens’ evaluations of EU financial assistance programmes and other burden-sharing initiatives can enhance output legitimacy and foster support for social integration