Trust in EU at 18-year high but fears for economy rising

By Euronews

Published on 29/05/2025 - 14:30 GMT+2

More than half of Europeans - 52% - thin to spot nan European Commission and EU, nan highest consequence since 2007, according Eurostat’s astir caller barometer, but nan study besides recorded rising fears for nan economical outlook successful Europe.

The study showed 43% of EU citizens proceed to person a affirmative image of nan EU, while 38% person a neutral image and 18% person a antagonistic image of nan EU.

Eurobarometer surveys are conducted regularly connected nan ground of look to look investigation crossed nan personnel states, providing a snapshot of nationalist opinion.

Nearly 9 successful 10 Europeans (88%) agreed that location should beryllium much rules-based practice betwixt countries and regions of nan world and 78% said they were concerned astir nan EU’s defence and information successful nan adjacent 5 years.

For nan first clip since 2004 nan percent successful favour of a communal defence and information argumentation among EU personnel states topped four-fifths astatine 81%.

However, erstwhile it came to nan cognition of nan business of nan European economy, 44% of Europeans recovered it good, down by 4 percent points, while 48% recovered it bad, up by 5 percent points.

According to Europeans, nan EU should return measures successful nan medium-term successful nan area of information and defence (39%), followed by nan system (29%), migration (24%) and ambiance and nan situation (24%).

74% successful nan EU arsenic a full and 83% successful nan euro area were for nan azygous currency, nan euro, representing nan highest support ever.

Russia’s penetration of Ukraine continued to beryllium considered arsenic nan astir important rumor astatine EU level (27%) followed by nan world business astatine 24% and information and defence astatine 20%, while 77% of European respondents agreed that Russia’s penetration of Ukraine is simply a threat to nan information of nan EU.

Three quarters of respondents (75%) - nan highest level successful much than 2 decades - said they felt they are citizens of nan EU.

In addition, much than six successful 10 EU citizens (62%) were also optimistic astir nan early of nan EU.

The Eurobarometer study was conducted betwixt precocious March and precocious April 2025 crossed nan 27 Member States, pinch 26,368 EU citizens interviewed face-to-face.

The findings reflected a inclination for boosted perceptions for nan EU amid a tense geopolitical backdrop.

In March a Eurobarometer study recovered immoderate 74% of those surveyed said that their state benefits from EU membership, nan champion consequence recorded since nan mobility was first introduced successful 1983.