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This Flash Eurobarometer, “Quality of life in European cities” (No 419), was conducted at the request of the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy to get a snapshot of people’s opinions on a range of urban issues. Earlier surveys were conducted in 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2012. In Spain citiziens of  Oviedo, Malaga, Madrid and Barcelona have been interviewed.

Foreword by Corina Creţu European Commissioner for Regional Policy

For this survey more than 40,000 people were interviewed in 79 cities and in 4 greater cities, allowing comparisons with previous surveys.

This survey has quite a unique focus on quality of life. People rated the quality of services such as education, cultural and sport facilities as well as public transport and administrative services.

People are also asked which mode of transport they use most frequently, whether they agree or disagree with statements on urban safety, air and noise pollution and whether migration is perceived as an asset.
Some findings give a positive picture of our European cities and demonstrate improvements. For example, in Budapest and in Cracow, there has been an increase of 20% of those who have a positive perception of public transport in their city, compared to 2012.

Satisfaction with health care services provides another example of such positive evolution, notably in Braga, Iraklion and Piatra Neamț. Other findings point to on-going problems. For example, finding good housing at a reasonable price is perceived as a challenge by a majority of respondents, and this difficulty is perceived as particularly severe in capitals.
In only one city out of five people agree that it is easy to find a job in their city. Amongst a list of issues respondents consider that ‘health services’ followed by ‘unemployment’ and ‘education and training’ are the three most important issues for their city. Hence, this survey shows some of the areas which deserve particular attention.

The full raport
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/studies/pdf/urban/survey2015_en.pdf