issues and in 14 cities they rank highest.

Overall, there is a high level of satisfaction with regard to the cities in which
respondents live
• In all except 8 cities (Athina, Athens surroundings, Napoli, Palermo, Miskolc,
Marseille, Istanbul and Ostrava), at least 80% of respondents say that they are
satisfied to be living in their city.

• Aalborg (99%), Hamburg (98%), Zurich, Oslo, Kobenhavn and Groningen (all 97%)
record the highest levels of satisfaction. By contrast, satisfaction is below 75% in
Athina (52%), Athens surroundings (59%), Napoli (65%), Palermo (71%) and
Miskolc (73%).

• Satisfaction with cleanliness, green spaces and public spaces such as markets,
squares and pedestrian zones, as well as the feeling of safety both in the city and in
the respondent's neighbourhood, are the features that show the highest correlation
with the overall satisfaction of living in a city.

Respondents were not asked whether they were satisfied living in their city in the
2009 survey. Compared with 2006, however, the level of satisfaction is stable in most
of the cities: in 66 cities there was no change exceeding three percentage points.

Significant differences between cities in the level of satisfaction regarding
public transport

• At least 7 out of 10 respondents in half of the cities surveyed are satisfied with public
transport in their city, the highest levels of satisfaction being in Zurich (95%) and
Rostock (90%).
• In 11 cities, fewer than half of respondents said they were satisfied with public
transport in their city: Vilnius, Bucuresti (both 48%), Verona, Oulu, Budapest (all
45%), Reykjavik (42%), Miskolc (40%), Valletta (37%), Roma (32%), Napoli (23%)
and Palermo (14%).
• In comparison with 2009, a significant number of cities have recorded negative
evolutions as others recorded significant positive evolutions. The largest decreases
were recorded in Antwerpen (60%, -21) and Oulu (45%, -20). The most substantial
increases in satisfaction with public transport were seen in Lefkosia (50%, +33) and
Sofia (62%, +19).

The level of satisfaction with health care services shows large variations
between cities

• In 12 cities (Groningen, Zurich, Strasbourg, Munchen, Antwerpen, Lille, Graz, Liege,
Newcastle, Rotterdam, Wien and Essen), at least 9 respondents out of 10 are
between cities
• In 12 cities (Groningen, Zurich, Strasbourg, Munchen, Antwerpen, Lille, Graz, Liege,
Newcastle, Rotterdam, Wien and Essen), at least 9 respondents out of 10 are
satisfied with the health care services of their city and in 50 cities the level of
satisfaction is at least 70%.

• Nevertheless, a majority of respondents are dissatisfied with this dimension in 19

cities, including 8 EU capitals (Athina, Bucuresti, Warszawa, Bratislava, Riga, Roma,
Sofia and Budapest).
• Cities from northern and central European countries are more likely to be satisfied,
while eastern and southern European cities are more likely to be dissatisfied.
• Compared with 2009, very marked negative changes can be observed in a significant
number of cities, most of which relate to cities that had already been in the lower half
of the ranking.

A generally high level of satisfaction as regards sports facilities
• In 33 cities, the level of satisfaction equals or exceeds 70%. Oulu (87%), Groningen
(86%) and Helsinki (84%) recorded the highest levels of satisfaction, while a majority
of respondents said they were dissatisfied with sports facilities in only 5 cities: Napoli
(60%), Athina, Palermo (both 59%), Bratislava (57%) and Kosice (50%).
• Respondents in very large cities are the least likely to be satisfied: only 4 of the 27
cities with over 1 million inhabitants included in the survey rank among the 40 most
satisfied cities.
• A comparison with the 2009 results shows positive evolutions in 59 cities, with
particularly noticeable rises in Liege (66%, +26), Burgas (68%, +26), Gdansk (72%,
+26) and Miskolc (61%, +21). A number of cities in Belgium, Bulgaria, Hungary,
Latvia, Poland, Slovenia and Turkey recorded results at least 10 points higher than in
2009.

A majority of respondents in all but one city are satisfied with their city’s
cultural facilities

• In 16 cities (Wien, Helsinki, Graz, Zurich, Groningen, Cardiff, Praha, Paris, Oslo,
Munchen, Leipzig, Amsterdam, Aalborg, Stockholm, Oulu and Kobenhavn), the level
of satisfaction is at least 90%, and in 63 cities at least 7 respondents out of 10 are
satisfied with the cultural facilities of the city. Respondents in Wien (96%), Helsinki
and Graz (both 95%) are the most satisfied.
• Valletta (37%) is the only city where fewer than 50% of respondents say that they
are satisfied with their city’s cultural facilities.
• Respondents in Scandinavian and central European cities are the most likely to be
satisfied, while respondents from cities in southern Europe or the eastern peripheries
are the least likely to be satisfied
• Compared with 2009, the greatest positive trends were observed in Napoli (57%,
+16) and Burgas (67%, +15) and the largest falls in Rostock (55%, -24) and
Newcastle (77%, -16).

Satisfaction with schools and educational establishments is low in many EU
Capitals

• In 14 cities (Groningen, Braga, Lille, Graz, Rennes, Ljubljana, Strasbourg, Bordeaux,
Oulu, Belfast, Antwerpen, Aalborg, Reykjavik and Newcastle), over 80% of
respondents are satisfied with the city's educational facilities. Satisfaction is at its
highest in Groningen, Braga (both 89%), Lille and Graz (both 88%).
• The highest dissatisfaction levels were recorded in Palermo (50%), Napoli (48%),
Athina, Diyarbakir (both 45%), Bucuresti (44%) and Roma (43%), the only cities
where more than 4 out of 10 respondents declared they were dissatisfied.
• Very large cities are most likely to be dissatisfied: 10 out of the 11 cities recording
the lowest levels of satisfaction are cities with over 1 million inhabitants.
• Only 10 EU capitals (Ljubljana, Lefkosia, Helsinki, Dublin, Luxembourg, Amsterdam,
Praha, Wien, Stockholm and Paris) are among the 40 best-ranked cities, and of these
only one (Paris) has over 1 million inhabitants.
Satisfaction regarding the state of streets and buildings in respondents’
neighbourhoods is low in many EU capitals
• In 34 cities, levels of satisfaction exceed 70%, and in 73 cities a majority of
respondents are satisfied with the state of streets and buildings in their
neighbourhood.
• Eleven EU capitals (Athina, Roma, Sofia, Bucuresti, Lisboa, Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn,
Valletta, Bratislava and Madrid) are among the 20 least satisfied cities.
• Scandinavian and central European cities are more likely to be satisfied than eastern
or southern European cities. Satisfaction is at its highest in Zurich (92%), Oulu and
Malmo (both 90%) and is at its lowest in Napoli (22%), Athina and Roma (both
27%).

Satisfaction with regard to public spaces such as markets, squares and
pedestrian zones is generally high

• Satisfaction is over 70% in 63 cities, and in 7 cities (Groningen, Oviedo, Malmo,
Munchen, Aalborg, Piatra Neamt and Luxembourg) at least 9 respondents out of 10
are satisfied with regard to public spaces. Respondents in Groningen (94%), Oviedo
(92%) and Malmo (91%) are the most likely to be satisfied.
• Surprisingly, EU capitals do not rank well on this dimension: only 4 EU capitals
(Luxembourg, Kobenhavn, Wien and Amsterdam) are among the 20 best-ranked
cities and 12 EU capitals are among the 20 worst-ranked cities.
Satisfaction regarding the availability of retail shops is generally high
• In 77 cities, at least three quarters of respondents are satisfied with this aspect, but
satisfaction is below 75% in Lisbon surroundings, Madrid, Lisboa, Athina, Reykjavik,
Ljubljana and Oviedo.

In only 9 cities do a majority of respondents say that it is easy to find a job in
their city

• The 9 cities where a majority of respondents say it is easy to find a job are Oslo
(70%), Praha (63%), Munchen (58%), Antalya (58%), Zurich (55%), Stockholm
(53%), Helsinki (53%), Istanbul (52%) and Bratislava (51%).
• At the other end of the scale, there are 7 cities where at least 9 out of 10
respondents disagree with this statement: Palermo (98%), Napoli (97%), Malaga
(94%), Athens surroundings (93%), Miskolc (91%), Athina and Oviedo (both 90%).
• The level of disagreement is also very high (over 70%) in all the cities in Ireland,
Hungary and Slovenia that are included in the survey, as well as in Belfast, Ostrava,
Bialystok, Kosice and Marseille.
• It seems to be most difficult to find a job in Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain
and Portugal: in all cities in these countries at least 8 respondents out of 10 disagree
with the idea that it is easy to find a job in their city.

Finding good housing at a reasonable price is perceived as a challenge for a
majority of respondents in more than half of the cities surveyed, and this
difficulty is perceived as particularly severe in capitals

• In 50 cities, at least one person in two disagrees on the easiness to find good housing
at a reasonable price.
• This difficulty is particularly severe in capitals. In 9 EU capitals, at least 80% of
respondents perceive difficulty in this respect, and in only one (Athina, 61%) do a
majority of respondents agree that it is easy to find good housing at a reasonable
price.
• The highest level of agreement was recorded in Oviedo, Piatra Neamt, Braga and
Oulu (all 65%), while the highest level of disagreement was recorded in Geneva,
Paris (both 95%) and Munchen (94%).
• Compared with 2009, the perception that it is easy to find good housing at a
reasonable price is improving in many cities. Nevertheless, 9 cities recorded negative
evolutions of at least 10 percentage points, the largest decreases being in Berlin
(16%, -35), Rostock (22%, -26) and Tallinn (18%, -22). Among these 9 cities there
are 6 German cities.

The presence of foreigners is generally viewed as positive

• In all but 5 of the cities surveyed, a majority of respondents agree that the presence
of foreigners is good for the city. In 49 cities, at least 70% of respondents agree with
this statement.
• The highest levels of agreement are in Cluj-Napoca (91%), Luxembourg, Krakow and
Kobenhavn (all 89%), while Athina (26%), Athens surroundings (27%), Lefkosia
(35%), Liege (46%) and Irakleio (48%) recorded the lowest levels of agreement.
11
• On the question of whether foreigners are well integrated, only 6 cities recorded a
level of agreement of 70% or over, and in 28 cities less than half of respondents
agree. Among these 28 cities, 11 are EU capitals.
• The highest levels of agreement with this statement are in Cluj-Napoca (76%),
Antalya (75%), Diyarbakir (74%), Ljubljana (73%), Groningen (71%) and
Luxembourg (70%). The lowest levels of agreement are in Athina (14%), Athens
surroundings (17%), Malmo (26%), Berlin (30%), Dortmund (36%), Stockholm
(38%) and Antwerpen (39%).
• In many cities, the level of agreement regarding the benefit of the presence of
foreigners is significantly higher than regarding their integration. In 53 cities, the
difference is at least 10 points, and in 16 cities it is at least 30 points.
• However, compared to 2009 more people now agree that the presence of foreigners
is good for the city and that foreigners are well integrated.

A majority of respondents feel safe in almost all cities

• In more than half (48) of the cities surveyed, at least 70% of respondents say they
feel safe in their city. The highest levels of agreement with this statement are in
Munchen (96%) and Aalborg (95%).
• In 6 cities, fewer than half of respondents expressed a positive opinion on safety in
their city: Athina (19%), Athens surroundings (22%), Marseille (32%), Liege (40%),
Napoli (41%) and Sofia (43%).
• In all but one city (Athina), the majority of respondents say they feel safe in their
neighbourhood, and in all but 12 cities at least 70% of respondents share this view.
In 20 cities, over 90% of respondents say they feel safe in their neighbourhood.
• Nevertheless, in many cities significantly more people feel safe in their
neighbourhood than in the city as a whole. In 34 cities, the difference is at least 10
points, and in 8 cities it is at least 20 points (Athens surroundings, Marseille, Liege,
Istanbul, Napoli, Berlin, Paris surroundings and Brussel/Bruxelles).
• There is a strong correlation between respondents’ sense of safety in their
neighbourhoods and in their city and their satisfaction with life in the city.
Trust in fellow citizens is high in more than three quarters of cities
• In 29 cities, at least 70% of respondents agree that most people in their city can be
trusted, and in 64 cities at least 50% of respondents agree. Trust is highest in
Aalborg (92%), Oulu (91%), Groningen (90%), Oviedo (89%), Kobenhavn and
Helsinki (both 86%).
• Among the 17 cities where fewer than half of respondents say they trust people in
their city are 10 EU capitals: Athina (20%), Bucuresti (31%), Budapest (32%),
Bratislava (35%), Sofia, Praha (both 39%), Brussel/Bruxelles, Warszawa (both 42%),
Riga (43%) and Paris (45%).
• In all but one city, Bucuresti (46%), the majority of respondents agree that most
people in their neighbourhood can be trusted, and in 63 of the cities surveyed at least
70% of the respondents agree with this statement.

Source:
EC Report>>>

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