Support for a range of actions taken in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remains very high. Almost nine in ten (89%) agree with providing humanitarian support to the people affected by the war, and more than eight in ten (84%) agree with welcoming into the EU people fleeing the war. 72% agree with providing financial support to Ukraine. The same proportion (72%) support economic sanctions on the Russian government, companies, and individuals. Around six in ten approve of the EU granting candidate status to Ukraine (61%) and of the EU financing the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine (60%).
Most respondents are satisfied with the EU’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (57%). 54% of Europeans say the same about their national government’s response.
A stronger and more independent EU
In the face of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, over eight in ten respondents agree that the EU should invest massively in renewable energies (83%) and reduce its dependency on Russian sources of energy as soon as possible (81%).
More than two thirds of EU citizens (69%) are for a common foreign policy of the Member States and agree the EU has sufficient power and tools to defend the economic interests of Europe in the global economy.
More than three quarters of Europeans (77%) are in favour of a common defence and security policy among EU Member States. This opinion is shared by more than six in ten respondents in each Member State.
Nearly seven in ten respondents (69%) are in favour of a common European policy on migration while 68% support a common European asylum system. At the same time, three quarters of respondents (75%) are in favour of a reinforcement of EU external borders with more European border guards and coast guards.
War in Ukraine and immigration as the main concerns for the EU
28% of Europeans think immigration on the one hand and the war in Ukraine on the other hand are among the two most important issues facing the EU. Then comes the international situation (24%), followed by the ‘rising prices/inflation/cost of living’ (20%, ranking fourth while it was the first concern last spring).
A positive perception of the EU
The 100th Standard Eurobarometer survey released today shows that seven EU citizens out of 10 (70%) believe that the European Union is a place of stability in a troubled world. This is the case for the majority of respondents in all Member States. In addition, more than six in ten citizens (61%) are optimistic about the future of the EU.
The 100th edition of the Standard Eurobarometer
Set up as a tool to reveal Europeans to each other, the Eurobarometer is key to better understand the evolution of the public opinion in Europe. The Standard Eurobarometer, now at its 100th edition, is a cross-national study carried out twice a year through face-to-face interviews, conceived to evaluate and compare public opinion trends within EU Member States.
The Standard Eurobarometer 100 (Autumn 2023) was conducted between 23 October and 15 November 2023 across the 27 EU Member States. 26,471 EU citizens were interviewed face-to-face.
