In a period of intense geopolitical challengesmany Greek citizens seem to believe that the European Union’s burning issues are directly concerned with their country. However, this perspective may be misleading, as George Passa’s comment highlights.

In recent months, Europe has been through a phase of deep changes. Policies such as the transition of Germany to *”war economy” *, its attempt to make it Budesver (Bundeswehr) ready, but also the discussion of reinstating compulsory military service, are indications of these changes. States such as France and Greece follow the same trend.

Citizens’ perceptions and reality in European countries

However, the general climate on the streets and daily discussions of citizens shows that priority in security and defense is significantly different from country to country. In Germany, the belief that the country should further invest in defense industry and in security had a significant impact on last February. Indicatively, PWC survey reports that 57% of respondents supported the increase in defense spending, while 74% considered the government’s security measures inadequate.

In Greece, on the other hand, security and defense are recorded as secondary issues. In accordance with Eurobarometerthe five most important issues for Greeks today are rise of prices and cost of livingfinancial situation, health, unemployment and crime. The situation in the international field as well as issues such as immigration, security and defense remain at low priority rates.

Double perception of Greece and EU

Of particular interest is the fact that while Greeks rank foreign policy and defense issues in Greece, they perceive as major issues for the EU itself both the “international situation” *and the *”Russian invasion of Ukraine” *. This results in one *”double reading” *: another Greece, another European Union.

The difference in priorities between the Great Powers (Germany, France) and the rest of the Member States reflects inequalities within the Union, as well as the fact that citizens living under strong daily economic pressure focus on immediate problems. Geopolitics seems to be *”long” *.

Geopolitical risks ignored?

Two issues are concerned, however: first, that many Greeks believe that what “burns” Europe do not affect them in their country. The war in Ukraine, for example, is not just a distant conflict, but with a profound impact on stability, economy and migratory flows on the Old Epirus.

Secondly, a tendency to preference, even a positive valuation, is recorded to leaders who are in geopolitical contrast to the EU. In a recent MRB poll (December 2024), the Greeks evaluated Vladimir Putin (31.8%) more positively against Macron (27%), Laien (15.3%).

In a period where the unity and the EU common gait In foreign policy and security are urgently necessary, it seems that there is not only political discrepancy between Member States, but also differentiation of societies themselves in terms of what they find critical to the future of the Union.

The real beneficiaries of this situation are on the one hand the political shapes that serve Europe’s internal divisions and those who seek to weaken European interests internationally – whether they are in Moscow, in Beijing or even in Washington.