More than half of Latvians believe EU actions affect their daily lives - Eurobarometer

RIGA - More than half of Latvians, or 59 percent, believe that the actions of the European Union (EU) have an impact on their daily lives, while 39 percent disagree, according to the winter Eurobarometer survey.

The data sets of the winter 2025 Eurobarometer survey have been arranged into four blocks: the European Union's (EU) role and tackling global problems, citizens' main priorities and values, perception of the European Parliament (EP), the EU and EU membership, and information on the EU and the EP.

In Latvia, 67 percent of respondents believe that the country has benefited from EU membership, while 26 percent of the respondents do not see any benefits from membership of the bloc.

When asked what are the main reasons why people believe that Latvia has benefited from EU membership, respondents noted that the EU contributes to maintaining peace and strengthening defense. In their view, the EU provides more job opportunities, while EU membership enhances Latvia's cooperation with other bloc members.

Less than half of Latvians, or 42 percent, have positive associations with the image of the EU. Another 42 percent have neutral associations, and 15 percent have negative associations with the EU.

The survey reveals that 56 percent of respondents have neutral associations with the image of the EP, 25 percent have positive associations with the image of the EU, while 14 percent of Latvians have negative associations with the image of the EP.

When asked whether they would like to see the EP playing a more prominent role, 57 percent of the respondents gave an affirmative answer, while 25 percent of Latvians had the opposite opinion. Eight percent of the respondents indicated that they wanted the role of the EP to remain unchanged.

The survey, which took place between January 9 and 29, was carried out among 1,005 citizens aged 15 and over in Latvia, while 26,354 European citizens participated in the EU-wide poll.