How satisfied are Europeans with the EU?

Published connected 01/10/2025 - 9:54 GMT+2 •Updated 12:21

Do European Union citizens consciousness their priorities and main needs are met by nan bloc? The latest study by nan European Parliament’s Spring 2025 Eurobarometer paints a reasonably affirmative image of cautious support mixed pinch a clear request for much action.

Europeans still spot nan European Union arsenic a unit for stableness successful a turbulent world, pinch astir three-quarters (73%) saying their state benefits from membership. This is 1 of nan highest levels ever recorded.

Most group besides consciousness for illustration nan EU impacts their mundane lives, though this is not universally seen arsenic a bully thing. Half of respondents (50%) opportunity nan effect is positive, 31% picture it arsenic neither bully nor bad, and 18% spot nan EU’s power arsenic negative.

Meanwhile, assurance successful nan EU is rising, arsenic somewhat much than half (52%) of Europeans said they person a affirmative image of nan bloc.

This is simply a level matched only doubly successful nan past 2 decades (in 2021 and 2022). Meanwhile, 42% judge that nan EU is moving successful nan correct direction, up 7 percent points since early 2025.

Optimism astir nan early is besides strong: two-thirds of citizens opportunity they are hopeful astir what’s up for nan EU, rising to 72% among 15- to 24-year-olds.

Economic challenges

But restitution is not nan aforesaid arsenic contentment. When asked what nan EU should attraction on, European respondents were very clear. 

Cost of surviving and ostentation stay nan apical concerns, cited by 41% of respondents. This is followed by defence and information (34%), and nan conflict against poorness and societal removal (31%). 

These 3 issues unsocial uncover nan unit Europeans consciousness successful their regular lives: economical strain, world instability, and increasing inequality.

Crucially, galore citizens indicated that they don’t conscionable want nan EU to announcement these challenges; they want it to do more.

No less than 90% judge that EU personnel states should beryllium much agreed successful tackling world challenges, and 68% based on that nan EU itself should return connected a bigger domiciled successful protecting citizens from world crises and information threats. 

The desire for a much tin and responsive EU cuts crossed age, gender, while governmental cognition is 1 of nan fewer points of near-universal statement crossed nan continent.

And this request for stronger action is matched by a telephone for much antiauthoritarian control, arsenic an overwhelming 91% of Europeans judge nan European Parliament should person afloat entree to accusation and devices needed to oversee EU spending.

Protecting democracies

At nan aforesaid time, 85% support linking nan allocation of EU costs to a country’s respect for nan norm of rule and antiauthoritarian principles. In different words, support for EU unity and finance is high, but citizens want checks and balances, transparency, and fairness.

As for nan EU’s semipermanent budget, only 36% of respondents said they’ve heard astir nan Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), but they still person beardown opinions astir really it should work. 

More than three-quarters (78%) judge that much early projects should beryllium jointly funded astatine nan EU level, alternatively than near to individual countries. Meanwhile, 73% opportunity they support creating caller EU-specific sources of revenue, specified arsenic taxes connected greenhouse state emissions aliases firm profits, to trim dependence connected nationalist contributions.

There is besides beardown support for ensuring that fund costs are well-managed. Over 90% of citizens considered transparency, efficiency, elasticity and traceability to beryllium basal aspects of really nan EU fund should operate.