Eurobarometer: Majority of Europeans approve of EU membership

TALLINN - According to a Eurobarometer survey published ahead of Europe Day on May 9, nearly three-quarters of Europeans and 82 percent of Estonians believe that EU membership is beneficial for their country.

In a complex global situation, Europeans increasingly see the EU as a guarantor of stability, and support for the common security and defense policy is at a record high. 75 percent of both EU and Estonian residents consider themselves citizens of the European Union.

In the context of global uncertainty, 73 percent of EU citizens and 57 percent of Estonian citizens see the EU as a stabilizing force. Support for the common security and defense policy among member states has returned to its highest level in the last two decades (81 percent in the EU, 79 percent in Estonia). Approximately eight out of ten Europeans believe that the EU should diversify its trade relations (80%) and establish partnerships with countries outside the EU (79 percent).

76 percent of respondents in the EU and 71 percent in Estonia believe that Russia's invasion of Ukraine threatens the EU's security. Support for the EU's response to the invasion remains high at 55 percent and is showing an upward trend. A large majority of Europeans support key assistance measures, including welcoming people fleeing the war (80 percent in the EU, 76 percent in Estonia), providing financial and humanitarian aid (75 percent in the EU, 71 percent in Estonia), and maintaining sanctions against Russia (70 percent in the EU, 73 percent in Estonia). Overall, 76 percent agree that the EU should continue to support Ukraine until a just and lasting peace is achieved. Additionally, 57 percent of Europeans and 59 percent of Estonian residents approve of granting Ukraine candidate status, and 56 percent of EU and 65 percent of Estonian residents support the purchase and delivery of defensive equipment to Ukraine.

51 percent of EU residents and 49 percent of Estonian residents trust the European Union as an institution. Trust has increased the most in France (+11 percentage points), Denmark (+9 percentage points), and Portugal (+8 percentage points), and has reached its highest level among young people aged 15-24 (61 percent). The main reasons cited for trusting the EU are the protection of democracy and fundamental values (42 percent), followed by defense against external threats (33 percent), and the view that the EU is the right level for solving global problems (31 percent). 60 percent of EU residents and 62 percent of Estonian residents express optimism about the EU's future. Across the EU, young people aged 15-24 are the most optimistic (68 percent). Nearly six out of ten EU citizens (57 percent) are satisfied with the way democracy functions in the EU.

Europeans are increasingly concerned about world events. The conflict in the Middle East is considered a major problem by 25 percent of EU and 23 percent of Estonian residents, the broader international situation by 23 percent of both Estonian and EU residents, and Russia's war against Ukraine by 20 percent of Estonian and EU residents. Meanwhile, at the national level, the main concern remains the cost of living (36 percent in the EU and 45 percent in Estonia).

The proportion of EU citizens who have a negative image of the United States has sharply increased (74 percent, +14 percentage points), far exceeding the positive opinion of the United States (24 percent). Regarding China, 61 percent of respondents have a negative opinion and 33 percent have a positive one. As for Russia's image, 83 percent hold a negative opinion and 14 percent a positive one.

Support for the euro in the EU remains at 74 percent, the highest level since its introduction in January 2002. In the eurozone, this figure is even higher: more than eight out of ten respondents (82 percent) expressed support for the single currency. As many as 87 percent of Estonian residents support the euro. In Bulgaria, the most recent country to join the eurozone, support has increased significantly since the last standard Eurobarometer survey (+13 percentage points), with a majority of respondents (55 percent) now in favor of the euro.

44 percent of Europeans surveyed felt that the state of the EU economy is good. 42 percent of EU residents and 37 percent of Estonian residents believe that Europe's economic situation will remain the same over the next 12 months. 36 percent and 33 percent respectively think the situation will worsen, while 15 percent and 17 percent believe it may improve.

Regarding investment priorities for the EU budget, more than two in five EU citizens (41 percent) and 46 percent of Estonian residents would like EU budget funds to be spent primarily on employment, social issues, and public health. Security and defense rank second at both the EU and Estonian levels (38 percent and 41 percent, respectively). Education, training, youth, culture, and media rank third at the EU level (37 percent) and are on par with defense issues in Estonia at 41 percent.

The Standard Eurobarometer 105 (Spring 2026) was conducted between March 12 and April 5, 2026, in all 27 member states. A total of 26,415 EU citizens were interviewed face-to-face. Interviews were also conducted in nine candidate and potential candidate countries (all except Ukraine) and in the United Kingdom.