Eurobarometer surveys are the official polling instrument utilized by the European Parliament, the European Fee and different EU establishments and businesses to usually monitor the state of public opinion in Europe on points associated to the European Union, in addition to attitudes on topics of political or social nature.
Russia’s warfare in opposition to Ukraine has strengthened public assist for the EU, the EP Spring Eurobarometer survey revealed at present finds.
Virtually two thirds (65%) of Europeans see EU membership as a great factor. That is the very best consequence since 2007, when it was at 58%. EU membership is seen as ‘a great factor’ by a relative majority of residents in all nations besides Greece and Slovakia, the place extra respondents view it as ‘neither a great nor a foul factor’. In comparison with Parliament’s final Parlemeter survey carried out on the finish of 2021, outcomes have elevated considerably in most nations, notably in Lithuania (+20 pp), Malta (+12 pp) and Estonia (+9 pp).
52% of Europeans at present have a optimistic picture of the EU, in opposition to 12% unfavorable. This consequence is a rise of three factors for optimistic picture since November-December 2021 and, on the similar time equals the most effective consequence measured by European Parliament’s surveys since 2007. Nationwide outcomes for a optimistic EU picture vary from 76% in Eire to 32% in Greece.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, welcoming the outcomes of the survey, mentioned: “With warfare returning to our continent, Europeans really feel reassured to be a part of the European Union. European residents are deeply hooked up to freedom, are able to defend our values, and are more and more realising that democracy can not be taken with no consideration.”
Latest occasions have additionally formed the picture Europeans have of different main actors on the worldwide scene. Russia is seen positively solely by 10% of respondents, down from 30% in 2018 when this query was final requested. China returns the second lowest rating with 22% (-14 pp). In contrast, Europeans have a extra optimistic picture of the UK (65%, +1 pp) adopted by the USA with 58% (+13 pp).
Most residents understand the warfare in Ukraine as basic change: 61% of Europeans aren’t assured that their life will proceed unchanged. Solely round a 3rd of respondents (37%) consider it could. A survey revealed final week by the European Fee exhibits eight in ten respondents (80%) agreeing with imposing financial sanctions on the Russian authorities in addition to Russian firms and people. A majority of residents in 22 Member States is happy with the EU’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Inflation and the price of residing had been already rising since lengthy earlier than Russia invaded Ukraine, additional magnifying the issue, and now 4 in ten Europeans say they’re already experiencing an affect on their way of life (40%). As clear signal of European resilience and unity, 59% of Europeans see the defence of frequent European values reminiscent of freedom and democracy as a precedence – even when that had been to have an effect on costs and the price of residing.
The growing financial worries are additionally mirrored within the political priorities residents need the European Parliament to deal with: The battle in opposition to poverty and social exclusion is talked about first (38%), adopted by public well being (35%), which has dropped considerably by 7 pp over the previous six months, and democracy and rule of regulation (32%), which in flip was topic to a major improve by 7 pp.
The notion of the warfare and what it means for the European Union turns into additionally seen within the residents’ core values they need the European Parliament to defend as a matter of precedence: Democracy once more tops the listing, with a rise of six factors in comparison with autumn 2021 (38%, +6pp). The safety of human rights within the EU and worldwide in addition to the liberty of speech and thought each comply with on 27%.
Background
The European Parliament’s spring 2022 Eurobarometer was carried out between 19 April and 16 Might 2022 amongst 26.578 respondents within the 27 EU Member States. The survey was carried out face-to-face and accomplished with on-line interviews the place crucial. EU outcomes had been weighted in line with the dimensions of the inhabitants in every nation.
