TALLINN - In light of current global challenges, Europeans are calling for greater democratic participation, stronger defense capabilities, and a transition to clean energy, according to a Eurobarometer survey published on Monday.
Most Europeans want the EU to protect children more effectively from online threats. The main concerns are cyberbullying and harassment (71 percent of respondents, 79 percent in Estonia), followed by grooming and sexual exploitation (70 percent, 80 percent in Estonia), exposure to harmful content such as violence, self-harm, or extremism (69 percent, 80 percent in Estonia), and the misuse of children's personal data (69 percent, 78 percent in Estonia).
Many also perceive a threat that children could be recruited for illegal activities (64 percent, 75 percent in Estonia) and are exposed to addictive features (60 percent, 72 percent in Estonia). Nearly two out of three Europeans (63 percent, 71 percent in Estonia) want the EU to establish an age limit for social media use.
Two-thirds of Europeans (66 percent) use social media daily to get current information. Therefore, to combat false or misleading information, Europeans want tougher penalties for illegal online content (44 percent, 39 percent in Estonia) and stricter rules for platforms (40 percent, 44 percent in Estonia).
There are also calls for clear labeling of content created or manipulated by artificial intelligence (38 percent, 49 percent in Estonia), a minimum age for social media access (37 percent, 36 percent in Estonia), and greater investment in media literacy and independent fact-checking (29 percent, 43 percent in Estonia).
On Monday, an expert group convened by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her with its report and recommendations for enhancing children's online safety.
Freedom of speech, fair elections, and rule of law seen as cornerstones of democracy
According to the survey, Europeans consider freedom of speech and expression (34 percent, 33 percent in Estonia), free and fair elections (32 percent, 38 percent in Estonia), and respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights (31 percent, 32 percent in Estonia) to be very important.
Also considered important are the fight against corruption (28 percent, 23 percent in Estonia), the transparency and accountability of political leaders along with an independent judiciary (26 percent, 24 percent in Estonia), and citizen participation in public debate and decision-making (22 percent, 29 percent in Estonia).
Europeans believe that to influence EU decisions, in addition to voting, more direct forms of participation should be used (46 percent, 57 percent in Estonia), followed by participation in political movements, parties, or trade unions (42 percent, 59 percent in Estonia).
Trust in EU's defense capabilities is growing
The majority of Europeans (68 percent, 79 percent in Estonia) agree that the EU should strengthen its ability to independently defend itself against potential external threats. 56 percent (72 percent in Estonia, +4 percentage points since January 2026) believe that the EU is capable of enhancing its security and better protecting its people.
Renewable energy and energy efficiency seen as main solutions to rising energy prices
More than half of respondents (56 percent, 54 percent in Estonia) believe that greater renewable energy production capacity can help the EU move away from fossil fuels. Two out of five respondents think that energy efficiency measures are needed. 32 percent (43 percent in Estonia) also consider nuclear energy a potential solution.
To mitigate rising energy prices, almost one in three respondents (31 percent, 27 percent in Estonia) has reduced their overall electricity consumption, and more than a quarter of respondents (27 percent, 31 percent in Estonia) have started to monitor their energy consumption more closely or have reduced their use of heating and cooling (26 percent, 19 percent in Estonia).
Many consume energy at different times of the day depending on prices (20 percent, 22 percent in Estonia), invest in more energy-efficient appliances (16 percent, 17 percent in Estonia), compare or switch different supply contracts (14 percent, 16 percent in Estonia), and install or consider renewable energy solutions (14 percent, the same for respondents in Estonia).
For the Flash Eurobarometer survey, a total of 25,904 EU citizens were surveyed online across all 27 European Union member states from June 19 to 24.
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