BERLIN, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- The environment and jobs are the top issues for European Union (EU) citizens, according to a Europe-wide "euopinions" survey conducted and published by the German Bertelsmann Stiftung on Wednesday.

Protecting the environment was identified as the most important issue by 40 percent of Europeans, followed by jobs (34 percent) and social security (23 percent), the survey found.

However, there were differences between respondents in the large EU states in terms of their "lists of priorities." While protecting the environment was identified as the "most important issue" by 49 percent of the respondents in Germany, 60 percent of Italians found their jobs more important than any other issue.

For the poll, more than 12,000 citizens are surveyed on a regular basis from all European countries, according to Bertelsmann Stiftung.

"A glimpse" at the age distribution showed that environmental protection was especially popular among young Europeans and was most strongly supported by Europeans aged between 16 and 25 years, Bertelsmann Stiftung said.

As for personal worries, the survey found that the rising cost of living was "at the very top" of Europeans' concerns, especially among respondents in Poland and France. With 44 percent, Germans were least worried about the cost of living.

"Interestingly," young Europeans aged 25 and under were twice as likely to be worried about being lonely than older Europeans between 46 and 65 years of age, according to the survey.

The survey also found that respondents older than 36 cared much more about social security than their younger peers. Social security was the top priority issue for nearly one-third of all Europeans between 56 and 65 years of age.

"Europeans must be convinced that common European policy generates added value," said Isabell Hoffmann, author and head of "eupinions."

"Citizens want to see results, but it remains to be seen whether the new (European) Commission will be able to enact everything that Europeans hope for," she said.