Brussels is celebrating record-high approval ratings, claiming that 74% of Europeans now support the EU, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey. Officials are also highlighting overwhelming backing for a more unified stance on security (89%) and a stronger global role (66%). But a closer look at the data tells a different story—one that EU leaders seem eager to downplay.
The survey’s real takeaway? Economic anxiety is through the roof. Inflation, the cost of living, and rising poverty dominate public concerns, with 43% of respondents naming them as the most pressing issues. Even more troubling, 33% of Europeans expect their standard of living to decline in the next five years—marking a sharp increase in pessimism, particularly in France (53%) and Germany (47%).
Meanwhile, Brussels continues pushing its controversial ReArm Europe initiative, an €800 billion defense expansion program tied to the EU’s open-ended support for Ukraine. Yet, curiously, the survey never explicitly asks Europeans whether they approve of this approach. Instead, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) has found that most Europeans—53%—believe the EU should pressure Ukraine into peace talks rather than prolong the war. That’s nearly double the 27% who support continued military aid.
Even the EU’s narrative about transatlantic relations seems to contradict reality. While officials warn that Trump’s potential return to the White House would upend global stability, 73% of Europeans still consider the U.S. an ally, including 22% who say Washington shares “our interests and values.” Support for the U.S. is even stronger in Ukraine itself, where 94% view America as a trusted partner.
The data also reveals a sharp divide in priorities across Europe. While North-Western nations place defense and security at the top of the agenda, Southern and Eastern European countries prioritize economic growth, agriculture, and education—leaving defense off their top-three concerns altogether.
Ultimately, the EU’s latest report paints a rosy picture that conveniently omits growing public disillusionment. Europeans are far more worried about economic hardship than external threats, and Brussels’ aggressive stance on Ukraine lacks broad public support. By selectively framing its poll results, the EU risks further widening the gap between its leadership and the people it claims to represent.
