The survey also confirms that Europeans strongly support the EU’s response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
A Eurobarometer survey published today shows that European citizens are strongly in favor of a common security and defense policy and expect the EU to gradually eliminate its dependence on Russian energy sources. The survey also confirms that Europeans strongly support the EU’s response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
The EU’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine – According to the results of the emergency Eurobarometer published on 5 May, today’s poll confirms that the majority of Europeans (59%) are satisfied with the EU response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the reaction of their own government (57%). Humanitarian actions are the ones most supported by the people (93%) and then actions for the EU reception of Ukrainians trying to escape the war (91%). 80% agree with the financial sanctions against the Russian government, Russian companies and Russian individuals and 70% with the financing of the supply and delivery of military equipment to Ukraine.
Defense and security – The vast majority of EU citizens (81%) are in favor of a common defense and security policy between EU Member States, with at least two thirds of the participants supporting this view in each country. In addition, 93% agree that Member States should act jointly on defense of EU territory and 85% believe that defense cooperation at EU level should be increased.
Energy autonomy – The Eurobarometer also shows that citizens largely support the RePowerEU objectives. For 87% of participants, the EU should reduce its dependence on Russian energy sources as soon as possible. 80% agree that energy policy can help defend the EU’s strategic interests. 86% believe that reducing oil and gas imports and investing in renewable energy sources are important for our overall security, while 87% believe that % believe that increasing energy efficiency will make us less dependent on non-EU energy producers. 85% would like the EU to invest heavily in renewable energy sources.
Tackling climate change 85% of Europeans believe that tackling climate change can help improve their health and well-being, and the same percentage believe that tackling climate change can create new opportunities for innovation, investment and jobs. While 49% fear that tackling climate change could hurt our economy, 83% believe it can help reduce the cost of major ecological disasters that may occur in the future. In addition, 81% believe that in the long run, renewable energy sources can reduce the price we pay for the energy we consume.
Key priorities – The Eurobarometer shows that, in the light of the current situation, Europeans consider defense and security (34%) and “strengthening the autonomy of the EU and its Member States in terms of energy supply” to be high priority areas for 2022 »(26%). Other priorities are tackling the economic situation (24%), the environment and climate change (22%) and unemployment (21%).
The coronavirus pandemic – The majority of respondents are satisfied with the way the EU handled the vaccination strategy (58%) and the way their own government handled it (59%).
Record
The “Special Eurobarometer” 526 – “The main problems of our time: the EU in 2022” was conducted with live interviews and online interviews from 19 April to 16 May 2022 in the 27 EU Member States. A total of 26,578 interviews were conducted in 27 EU Member States.
George Fellidis
