Began in 1990, when nationally representative surveys were undertaken on behalf of the European Commission in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and the Soviet Union. Explored individuals' attitudes toward democratic and economic reform, were carried out in the autumn of each year through 1997 in up to 20 countries of the region. An extension of the Eurobarometer series conducted semi-annually in the member nations of the European Union (EU), the Central and Eastern Eurobarometers also focused on public support for the EU and on other issues facing Europe as a whole. After the 1st wave of research, the number of countries was variably expanded to reflect then-current political alignments and realities of access for survey researchers. In each of the countries surveyed, approximately 1,000 persons aged 15 and over were interviewed in their own homes.
