Eurobarometer survey: Europeans still prioritise security and defence investment
Residents are additionally demanding higher competitiveness from the EU, in addition to the strengthening of the financial system and business to satisfy international challenges.
Within the face of geopolitical challenges, together with Russia’s warfare in Ukraine and incoming US tariffs on European merchandise, a majority of the continent’s residents firmly imagine the European Union should make investments additional in safety and defence.
The European Parliament shared this info on Tuesday when it offered its Eurobarometer Winter Survey 2025, which was performed between 9 January and 4 February this yr.
The survey additionally exhibits a notable progress in Europeans’ demand to strengthen competitiveness and business to satisfy the challenges at the moment going through the bloc.
Points that have been priorities in 2024, resembling meals safety and agriculture, local weather motion, and emission reductions, declined in reputation this yr. In the meantime, the demand for schooling and analysis barely elevated.
Emphasis on European values resembling democracy and the safety of human rights additionally fell.
Based on European Parliament spokesperson Delphine Colard, these outcomes present that “in instances of higher uncertainty, individuals flip to the EU” and that “for instance, in response to the survey, 74% of Europeans imagine that being a part of the EU has benefitted them.”
And this, Colard elaborates, “is the very best determine we’ve got recorded because the query was first requested in 1983”.
One other revealing statistic is the affect of inflation and joblessness on nearly all of European residents this yr. Essentially the most widespread notion amongst respondents is that their way of life won’t change for higher or worse within the coming years.
Furthermore, 7.7% extra Europeans than the earlier yr imagine that their way of life will worsen.
