In his editorial of 18 July 1974, Emanuele Gazzo, Director of Agence Europe, commenting on the publication of the results of the first opinion poll carried out by the European Commission in the nine Member States of the Community, welcomes the creation of the Eurobarometer with a view to promoting a better understanding of European public opinion.

Jacques-René Rabier, Honorary Director-General of Information and former Special Adviser to the European Commission, describes how the Eurobarometer public opinion survey was devised and outlines the political and scientific objectives of this survey, which was launched experimentally in the autumn of 1973.

In 1973, the European Commission sets up the Eurobarometer as a means of conducting surveys of public opinion.