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Growing trust in the EU

Trust in the EU among citizens of its member states has reached the highest level in nearly two decades. According to the latest Eurobarometer, as many as 52% of Europeans express trust in the EU – the highest level since 2007. Particularly notable is the attitude of the younger generation (15–24 years old), with as many as 59% expressing support for European institutions. The survey was conducted across all 27 member states and included over 26 thousand face-to-face interviews. This phenomenon arises in the context of growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty, prompting reflection on the reasons behind increased support for the European project.

The rise in trust in the EU comes at a time when the international order is becoming increasingly unstable. Russia’s aggressive policies, tensions in relations with China, and the unpredictability of U.S. politics – especially under Donald Trump – are prompting Europeans to view the EU as a stable counterweight to external threats. The younger generation, raised during the era of globalization and European values, sees the EU not just as an economic project but also as a guarantor of security and stability in the face of global crises.

Record support has also been recorded for the European economic and monetary union – as many as 74% of EU residents and 83% of eurozone residents support the common European currency. This is the highest level since the euro was introduced. While assessments of Europe’s current economic situation are divided (44% positive, 48% negative), as many as 43% of respondents anticipate stabilization in the coming year. The euro is increasingly seen as a symbol of stability and protection against external crises – from trade wars and disrupted global supply chains to inflation.

Europe Builds a Shield

As many as 81% of Europeans support the idea of a common defense policy – the highest level since 2004. The European Union has taken concrete steps, creating a €150 billion defense fund in response to growing threats from Russia and uncertainty about the U.S.’s commitment to Europe’s defense. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 changed perceptions of threats on the continent, prompting member states to build a more autonomous defense policy and increase investments in security. Limited trust in NATO, especially important for countries such as Poland, motivates the EU to seek new alliances and more effective protective mechanisms.

Growing Support for Common Defense Policy

77% of respondents consider Russia’s aggression a serious threat to Europe’s security, and 72% support economic sanctions against Moscow. The war in Ukraine has not only heightened the sense of threat but also increased solidarity within the EU, strengthening its position as a key actor on the international stage. This conflict has underscored the need for a common security and defense policy and effective mechanisms to respond to aggression.

European Union Under Pressure: Record Support and Growing Euroscepticism

The Eurobarometer also indicates growing optimism about the EU’s future – 62% of Europeans look to the future with hope, and as many as 88% support principles based on international cooperation. Despite challenges such as wars, economic crises, and climate change, as many as 43% of respondents view the EU positively, with only 18% holding a negative view. Cooperation, democracy, and the rule of law are seen as cornerstones of stability in a globalized world.

However, record levels of trust in the EU contrast with rising euroscepticism and the growing influence of conservative forces in many member states. Parties such as Hungary’s Fidesz, Poland’s Law and Justice (PiS), Italy’s Northern League, or Brothers of Italy (FdI) criticize the current shape of the EU, its migration and economic policies, and the role of EU institutions. In the European Parliament, the number of seats held by eurosceptic groups such as the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID) is increasing. While their influence is counterbalanced by dominant political groups (European People’s Party, socialists, liberals), they are changing the tone of the debate about the EU’s future.

The very high levels of trust in the EU can be interpreted in various ways – from growing solidarity among member state citizens (including the younger generation) in the face of global challenges, to an increasing polarization of societies. It is noticeable that society is beginning to split into a younger generation that largely trusts European institutions and seeks deeper integration, believing that together we are stronger, and an older generation that is increasingly expressing distrust towards the current form of the EU and its policies.

The increase in trust in the EU and its institutions indicates the strengthening of the European project in the face of global challenges. Support for the euro, a common defense policy, and values based on cooperation point to the growing political maturity of European societies. However, this phenomenon is not uniform – in many countries, skepticism toward the direction of integration is rising. The future of the EU will depend on its ability to maintain internal cohesion and effectively respond to both external and internal challenges.

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