According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, trust in the European Union has reached its highest level in the past 18 years, and support for the euro has never been as high as it is now. In the current geopolitical context, Europeans would also like to see a stronger and more assertive EU acting through a common defence and security policy. At the same time, peace is and remains the value that best embodies the EU.
Trust in the EU has reached its highest level in the past 18 years
52% of Europeans trust the EU, the highest result since 2007. Trust in the EU is greatest among young people aged 15 to 24 (59%). 52% of Europeans say they trust the European Commission, another 18-year high, and among young people the figure is higher still (57%). At the same time, 36% of Europeans say they trust their national government and 37% say they trust their national parliament.
Three quarters of respondents (75%) consider themselves EU citizens — the highest value in more than twenty years. Moreover, more than six in ten people (62%) are optimistic about the future of the EU.
Europeans back the euro
The Eurobarometer survey found the highest ever level of support for the single currency both in the European Union (74%) and in the euro area (83%). As for the state of the European economy, 44% of Europeans say it is good, while 48% consider it bad. The largest share of people (43%) believe that the European economic situation will remain stable over the next 12 months, as it has been so far
Europeans want a stronger and more assertive EU
Almost 7 in 10 respondents (69%) agree that the European Union provides stability in a turbulent world.
Almost nine in ten Europeans (88%) believe there should be more rules-based cooperation between the world's countries and regions. More than four in five EU citizens (86%) believe that raising customs tariffs harms the global economy. However, if other countries increase duties on imports from the EU, 80% of respondents agree that the EU should apply customs tariffs to defend its interests.
More than eight in ten people (81%) support a common defence and security policy among the Member States — the highest result since 2004. At the same time, 78% express concern about the EU's defence and security over the next five years.
As regards the EU's budget priorities, Europeans would like EU budget funds to be spent on defence and security (43%), employment, social affairs and public health (42%), and education, training, youth, culture and the media (34%, unchanged). At 40%, security and defence is also the most important area that people think should be allocated more EU funding, followed by the energy transition/affordable energy (32%).
Europeans believe that medium-term action in the EU should be taken in the field of security and defence (39%), followed by the economy (29%), migration (24%) and climate and the environment (24%). At the same time, 44% of all EU citizens believe that securing peace and stability will have the most positive effect on their lives in the short term, followed by securing food, healthcare and industrial raw materials (27%) and more job opportunities (26%).
Peace (41%, +2 percentage points) remains the value that best characterises the EU, followed by democracy (33%, -2 percentage points) and respect for the rule of law, democracy and fundamental rights (28%, a new entry).
Steady and stable support for the EU's response to the war in Ukraine
In view of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, 80% of European respondents agree that the European Union should take in people fleeing the war, while more than three quarters of Europeans (76%) support providing financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. 72% of EU citizens support the economic sanctions imposed on the Russian government, companies and individuals, while six in ten (60%) support granting Ukraine EU candidate country status and 59% agree that the EU should fund the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is still seen as the most important of the 15 issues at EU level (27%), followed by the international situation (24%) and security and defence (20%). 77% of European respondents agree that Russia's invasion of Ukraine threatens the EU's security.
General information
Standard Eurobarometer 103 (spring 2025) was carried out in all 27 EU Member States between 26 March and 22 April 2025. A total of 26,368 EU citizens were interviewed face to face. Surveys were also conducted in nine candidate and potential candidate countries (all except Ukraine), as well as in the United Kingdom.
Further information