There is overwhelming support for greater defense efforts within the EU, with citizens considering it one of their most important concerns. The EU now needs to bridge the gap between rhetoric and action.
A number of recent surveys support the view that the French and the Germans are drifting apart. Strong cross-border initiatives in the fields of education, public media, culture, and tourism remain potent counterweights.
The European Parliament elections may augur whether the rest of the West will swing in a populist direction.
The EU is becoming more of a security actor. European publics approve, at least in the abstract.
Overall, Europeans are in favor of a bigger European Union. However, there are huge differences when it comes to individual countries and whether or not it requires reforms.
Polling reveals a divide between Europe and the Global South over Russia’s war against Ukraine. Europeans should do more to shore up support for a global coalition against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
In Europe, China’s charm offensive is increasing falling on deaf ears, as attitudes harden, in part due to Beijing’s tacit support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
According to polls, Germans want the EU to shield their companies in similar ways the United States and China do. Transatlantic unity, however, offers a better chance for fundamentally rebuilding Germany’s economy.
The European Union is viewed quite positively in the Indo-Pacific. However, economic engagement does not necessarily translate into popularity.
Public opinion on both sides of the Atlantic about transatlantic relations is warmer since Joe Biden won the US presidency. But a return of a Republican to the White House could end this with a bang.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a surge in support for the country’s EU membership. However there already signs that support may be cooling. And doubts persist about whether Ukraine can fulfil the many accession criteria.
Even before Putin launched his war against Ukraine, the European public at large was ahead of their governments in expecting the Russian president to opt for violence. Support for Ukraine is widespread, while the thinking about Russia has fundamentally changed.
