As the ripples of geopolitical unrest continue to buffet the continent, a recent Eurobarometer survey has unveiled a striking shift in public sentiment: 68% of EU citizens now believe the Union must escalate its role in safeguarding them against international crises and security threats.
This striking figure reflects an unmistakable demand for action, not from individual member capitals, but from Brussels itself. In a landscape fraught with complexity—political, economic, and strategic—there is a growing consensus that only through a more united Europe can stability be secured.
Unity in the Face of Turbulence
Remarkably, nine in ten Europeans (90%) call on Member States to face global challenges together, casting aside fragmentation in favour of solidarity. This affinity for collaboration underscores a realignment of public consciousness: Europe is not merely a consortium of nations, but a united front.
But solidarity without capability is futile. Here too, sentiment is emphatic: 77% of respondents believe the EU must be empowered with substantially greater means to tackle the uncertainties of today’s world. In other words, hopes are pinned on a financially and institutionally bolstered Union.
Priorities Sketched by Concern
When asked which sectors should prevail in Europe’s agenda, the public response reveals a blend of existential concern and hard-headed pragmatism. Leading the call for attention: defence and security (37%), followed closely by competitiveness, economy and industry (32%).
Yet worry lines run deeper. Regarding parliamentary priorities, inflation, rising prices, and the cost of living topped the list at 41%, trailed by defence and security at 34% and the fight against poverty and social exclusion at 31%. These percentages expose a populace grappling with real economic hardship, even as anxieties about global instability loom large.
Calls for Collective Investment—and Transparency
The eurozone’s citizens appear to favour pooled action. Approximately 78% of Europeans believe more projects should be financed at Union level, rather than through individual member states. It’s a clear pivot toward fiscal union and away from fragmented national schemes.
But money demands oversight. 91% of respondents want the European Parliament not only to be informed, but to have the necessary instruments to responsibly control EU spending. Equally, 85% support conditioning financial flows on Member States’ commitment to the rule of law and democratic standards. Such high percentages reflect a powerful undercurrent of demand for accountability and ethical governance.
The Paradox of Proximity
Whilst guarding against distant threats, Europeans are also acutely aware of the Union’s proximity to their everyday existence. 72% acknowledged that EU actions affect their daily lives, with 50% viewing this impact positively, 31% perceiving it as neutral, and 18% as negative.
Moreover, the EU is emblematic of continuity: 73% of citizens say their nation has benefited from EU membership, attributing these gains to peace and improved security (37%), enhanced cooperation between states (36%), and economic growth (29%). This sentiment—rooted in gratitude as much as practicality—remains a sturdy anchor in Europe’s collective psyche.
Parliament Echoes the People
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola did not mince words. “EU citizens want Europe to focus on security and the economy,” she said, emphasising their aspiration for unity and strength amid uncertainty. Her invocation of “put our money where our mouth is” resonates as both a call to action and a caution against perfunctory gestures.
Her message frames the Union’s looming Multiannual Financial Framework (post-2027 budget) as the fulcrum around which Europe’s future potency hinges.
Behind the Survey
It’s worth noting that this was no perfunctory opinion poll. The Spring 2025 Eurobarometer, conducted by Verian from 5 to 29 May 2025, canvassed 26,410 respondents across all 27 Member States, using in-person interviews and video-assisted approaches. The methodology, blend of regional representation, and breadth of engagement lend considerable weight to its findings.
Clearheaded, subtly compelling, with an eye toward both fact and implication this survey reveals no mild tremor of disquiet. Instead, it represents a seismic public demand for a Europe that is not merely reactive, but empowered; not merely cooperative, but unified; not merely bureaucratic, but accountable.
As the EU approaches the critical juncture of its next long-term budget, the people have spoken with unmistakable clarity. They expect security, economic resilience, democratic safeguards—and they expect these to be delivered by a Union with both the will and the wherewithal to govern effectively. The question now is whether Europe’s institutions are prepared to answer that call.
