Some three quarters (74%) of EU citizens have said that their country has benefited from membership of the European Union, according to a Eurobarometer survey.
While less than half (48%) of respondents declared their ‘trust’ in the European Union, a slight decrease since the start of 2025, 59% said that they were ‘optimistic’ about the future of the EU.
The survey showed that two thirds (67%) of citizens view the EU as a source of stability in a challenging world, with four fifths (83%) believing the bloc should do more to strengthen its economic independence and diversify trade relations with countries all over the world.
A similar percentage (79%) believe that the EU should develop a common defence and security policy among Member States, the second highest result since this question was first asked, in 2004.
Day-to-day impact
When asked what actions would have the most impact on their day-to-day lives in the short term, more than two fifths (42%) cited the need to ensure peace and stability, followed by the need to create more job opportunities (26%). Securing food, health, and industry supplies (25%) and managing irregular migration (24%) were also among the main areas cited.
In terms of the EU budget, meanwhile, 42% of respondents would like to see more spending on employment, social affairs and public health, followed by education, training, youth, culture and media (36%) and defence and security (35%).
Economic expectations
Elsewhere, the common currency – the euro – received 74% support from respondents, with support in the euro area even higher (82%).
Views on the state of the European economy, however, were less positive, with 46% describing it as ‘good’ and the same percentage describing it as ‘bad’. Some 49% of respondents believe the European economic situation will ‘remain stable’ in the next 12 months.
Finally, as regards the ‘most important issue’ facing the EU, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was cited by 26% of respondents, followed by immigration (20%), the international situation (19%) and security and defence (18%). More than three quarters (77%) of European respondents said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a ‘real threat’ to EU security.
The survey was undertaken by Eurobarometer in October and November 2025. Read more here.
