This infographic series presents the main results obtained from an elite survey conducted in the framework of the ERC funded REScEU project. The aim of the survey was to understand MPs' attitudes towards policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening the social dimension of the EU and understand their views about the nature of the multifaceted European crisis.

Ensuring fiscal stability or social protection. What should the top priority for the EU be?

Conditionality, solidarity or national self-responsibility? What should the guiding principle of the EU be?

Differently from our previous observations about the mission of the EU and the support for international financial solidarity among member states in times of crisis, political elites are much more likely to support freedom of movement, compared to the voters they represent.

Overall, more than eight MPs out of ten believe that their countries have benefited from EU membership. However, in six countries masses appear to be more sceptical than elites about the benefits the EU has brought.

At the aggregate level, slightly less than 40% of MPs opt for the image of a "common house" when asked how they would picture the EU.

At the aggregate level, the majority of MPs believes that the nature of the post-2008 crisis is both political and economic. Turning to the possible solutions of the current European crisis, interesting cross-country and cross-partisan differences appear.

Being the largest member state and biggest economy of the EU, Germany has played an important role during the crisis. We asked MPs of 7 EU countries if Berlin acted more like a "self-interested hegemon", or a "solidaristic leader".

Following the analysis of elites' opinion relative to the behaviour of Germany during the Euro crisis, we gauged MPs' feelings towards some European leaders who played, or are still playing, a relevant role in the current multidimensional crisis of the EU.

The REScEU Mass and Elite surveys do not only tap individuals' and MPs' general attitudes towards integration and solidarity, but also gauge mass and elites' preferences for specific policies aimed at fostering pan-European solidarity.

Six MPs out of ten in our pooled sample are in favour of the introduction of Eurobonds, a figure slightly higher than what is observed among voters (56%). However, in Germany, Poland, and Sweden, a clear majority of MPs (70% on average) does not support the introduction of Eurobonds.

In the context of Brexit and rising Euroscepticism across the continent that has focused on (mis)interpretations of the effects of labour mobility, the question of a European Social Union cannot sidestep the East-West chasm and treat the Eurozone as its only priority.