Europeans Embrace EU Amid Growing Gloom About World, Survey Finds
A new Eurobarometer survey shows that Europeans increasingly value EU membership, particularly for peace and security, while gloom about global conditions deepens.
According to a recently published Eurobarometer survey, European Union citizens are showing increased support for the bloc while expressing deeper concerns about the overall state of the world. The survey, which interviewed over 26,000 EU residents aged 15 and older between May and April, found that 40% of respondents listed the bloc's contribution to protecting peace and security as the most important advantage of EU membership.
Europeans also identified three priority areas for the EU to strengthen its global position: defense and security, energy independence, and competitiveness. The importance of energy independence has grown particularly amid rising energy prices following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola commented on the findings, stating: "At a time of global uncertainty, Europeans increasingly see the European Union as a beacon of stability. In a troubled world, that trust is Europe's greatest asset."
However, satisfaction with EU membership varies significantly across member states. While more than 90% of respondents in Malta, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Portugal said the EU had been beneficial, this share dropped to about 60% in Greece, Austria, France, and Bulgaria.
