European Values Studies: A unique cross-national comparative and longitudinal survey research project on basic human values in Europe

The article describes the main stages of the development of a cross-national comparative and longitudinal survey re¬search project on basic human values in Europe. It is noted that the relevance of focusing on values is that they function as prime guidelines in people’s life and they are also reflect many of the social changes that have taken place in Europe. A key result of the European Values Study project is that there is unity in diversity in Europe. In conclusion, it is emphasized that the new data collection provides researchers with information about current values and enables to find out if and to what extent and in which direction values are changing in a rapidly changing European society