The latest Eurobarometer survey reveals citizens’ high expectations regarding the EU and its post-2027 budget. 68% of EU citizens want the EU to play a greater role in protecting citizens against international crises and security risks. Nine out of ten Europeans citizens call on Member States to tackle current global challenges together (90%).
According to the Eurobarometer survey, Defence and security (37%) as well as competitiveness, economy and industry (32%) should be the EU’s focus, to reinforce its position in the world. To invest in what matters, 78% of EU citizens believe that more projects should be funded by the EU as a whole and 91% say the European Parliament should be properly informed and equipped to control EU spending
In the midst of geopolitical uncertainty, the majority of Europeans think the EU should play a greater part in protecting its citizens against global crises and security risks (68%). Over three quarters believe that the EU needs more means to face the current global challenges (77%).
When asked about the issues the European Parliament should give priority to, inflation, rising prices and the cost of living (41%), defence and security (34%), and the fight against poverty and social exclusion (31%) come first. Getting inflation and the cost of living under control, was already a key issue in the last European elections, as shown by the EU post-electoral Eurobarometer survey, with the economic situation continuing to be a major concern for many Europeans.
91% of citizens say that the European Parliament must have all the necessary information and means to control EU spending properly. In addition, 85% of Europeans, with a majority in all member states, agree that the provision of funds to member countries should be conditional upon their upholding of the rule of law and democratic principles.
Nearly three out of four respondents (72%) say that EU actions have an impact on their daily life, with half of them seeing the impact as ‘positive’ (50%), 31% as ‘neither particularly positive nor negative’ and 18% as ‘negative’. The EU is regarded as a place of stability with 73% of Europeans saying that their country has benefited from being a member of the EU.
