Eurobarometer shows great majority of Europeans see benefits from EU membership and the EU as a pillar of stability and security

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Published ahead of Europe Day, the new Eurobarometer survey shows nearly three quarters of Europeans believe their country has benefited from being a member of the EU.  In a challenging global context, Europeans increasingly see the EU as a source of stability, alongside record-high backing for a common defence and security policy. Three quarters of respondents (75%) say they feel they are citizens of the EU, matching the highest level ever recorded in spring 2025.

The EU – a pillar of stability and security

Europeans strongly view the EU as a stabilising force in an uncertain world (73%, +6 percentage points). With 81% (+2 pp), support for common defence and security policy among Member States is back to the highest level in the past two decades. Around eight in ten Europeans think the EU should diversify its trade relations (80%) and build partnerships with countries outside the EU (79%).

Continued strong support for the EU’s response to the war in Ukraine

The survey shows that 76% of respondents agree that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of the EU. Support for the EU’s response to the invasion remains strong at 55% (+2 pp). A large majority of Europeans backs key measures, including welcoming people fleeing the war (80%), providing financial and humanitarian support (75%), and maintaining sanctions against Russia (70%). Overall, 76% agree that the EU should continue supporting Ukraine until a just and lasting peace is achieved. Furthermore, 57% approve of the EU granting candidate status to Ukraine, and 56% agree with the EU financing the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine.

Trust in the EU strengthens as optimism holds firm

A majority of Europeans trust the EU (51%), three percentage points higher than in the Autumn 2025 survey. Trust has increased the most in France (+11 pp), Denmark (+9 pp), and Portugal (+8 pp), and reached its highest level among young people aged 15–24 (61%). The protection of democracy and fundamental values is indicated as the main reason to trust the EU (42%), followed by the protection against external threats (33%), and the view that the EU is the right level to address global challenges (31%). Optimism about the future of the EU has slightly increased (60%, +1 pp). The most optimistic are the young aged 15 to 24 (68%). Almost six in ten EU citizens (57%) are satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU. According to the interviewees, the values that best represent the EU are peace (41%), democracy (32%), respect of rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights (28%).

Global situation and cost of living are top concerns

Concerns among Europeans are increasingly shaped by global developments. At EU level, the conflict in the Middle East is now the top concern (25%), ahead of the broader international situation (23%) and Russia’s war against Ukraine (20%). At the same time, the cost of living remains the dominant concern at national and personal level, with respectively 36% and 52%.

EU citizens’ negative opinion of the United States has risen sharply (74%, +14pp) outnumbering by far the positive opinion of the United States (24%). Meanwhile, 61% have a negative opinion of China while 33% have a positive one; and 83% have a negative opinion of Russia against 14% with positive views. At the same time, 48% have a positive opinion of India while 41% have a negative one.

Europeans strongly support the euro amid economic uncertainties

Support for the euro in the EU remains at 74%, maintaining the highest level since its introduction in January 2002. In the euro area, this figure is even higher with more than eight in ten interviewees (82%) expressing support for the common currency. In Bulgaria, the latest country to join the euro area, support has increased significantly since the previous Standard Eurobarometer survey (+13 pp), with a majority now in favour (55%).

At the same time, perceptions of the economic situation have weakened slightly, with 44% of interviewed Europeans considering the EU economy to be in a good state. A relative majority of citizens (42%) think the European economic situation will remain the same in the next 12 months versus 36% who think it will be worse and 15% who think it will be better.

In terms of priorities for investments from the EU budget, more than two in five EU citizens (41%) would like the EU budget to be spent firstly on employment, social affairs and public health. Security and defence rank second at EU level (38%), followed by education, training, youth, culture and media ranks third at EU level (37%)

Background

The Standard Eurobarometer 105 (spring 2026) was conducted between 12 March and 5 April 2026 across the 27 Member States. Overall, 26,415 EU citizens were interviewed face-to-face. Interviews were also conducted in nine candidate and potential candidate countries (all except Ukraine) and the United Kingdom.

For more information

Standard Eurobarometer 105

ANNEX

Benefit from being a member of the EU

Three quarter of Europeans feel they are citizens of the EU

The EU – a pillar of stability and security

Continued strong support for the EU’s response to the war in Ukraine

Trust in the EU strengthens as optimism holds firm

Global situation and cost of living are top concerns

Europeans strongly support the euro amid economic uncertainties