The European Parliament’s Winter 2025 Eurobarometer survey, released today, highlights historic levels of approval for EU membership linked to peace and security.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said: “Two thirds of Europeans want the EU to play a greater role in their protection. This is a clear call for action which we will answer. Europe needs to be stronger so that our citizens feel safer. The European Parliament will ensure that every proposal put forward is bold and ambitious enough to match the serious level of threat Europe faces. Europe must step up today, or it risks being stepped over tomorrow.”
66% of EU citizens want the EU to take a more important role in protecting them against global crises and security risks. This view is particularly strong amongst younger respondents to the survey. At the national level, results for a stronger role of the EU range from 87% in Sweden to 47% in Romania and 44% in Poland. In Malta 82% of respondents are in favour of the role of the EU becoming more important to protect against gobal crises and security risks.
Almost three quarters of EU citizens (74%) believe their country has benefited from being a member of the EU. This is the highest result ever recorded in a Eurobarometer survey for this question since it was first asked in 1983. Fitting the current context, respondents mention the EU’s contribution to maintaining peace and strengthening security (35%) as the main reason why membership is considered beneficial.
Malta stands at the top of the list in this regard as 92% consider EU membership beneficial, two percentage points more than a year ago. For 50% of the Maltese the main benefit of membership is that the EU contributes to the economic growth of the country, whilst 17% note the EU contributes to peace and strengthening security. In addition, there is wide agreement among EU citizens that EU Member States should be more united to face current global challenges (89%) and that the European Union needs more means to deal with the challenges ahead (76%). The Maltese are the most in Europe to favour action in unity, with 98% in favour, while 91% think the EU needs more means to face current global challenges.
Citizens expect the EU to strengthen security and defence and to enhance competitiveness
In a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, defence and security (36%) as well as competitiveness, economy and industry (32%) are identified as the areas on which the EU should focus most to reinforce its position in the world. These are also the topics that featured high on last week’s European Council with Parliament’s President calling for faster action and bolder ambition. While the results for defence and security have remained stable compared to February/March 2024, those for competitiveness, economy and industry have increased by five points. These two areas are followed by energy independence (27%), food security and agriculture (25%) and education and research (23%).
Different priorities in Malta were EU values, including democracy and the protection of human rights (29%) and education and research (29%) are the joint top priorities. Climate action and emissions reduction (28%), food security (27%) and technology and innovation including AI (24%) follow. Competitiveness, and defence and security, both come in as a priority for at 20% each as EU focus areas to reinforce its position in the world.
Economic and security issues are also at the forefront when it comes to the topics citizens want the European Parliament to address as a priority. Four in ten Europeans mention inflation, rising prices and the cost of living (43%), followed by the EU’s defence and security (31%), the fight against poverty and social exclusion (31%) and support to the economy and the creation of new jobs (29%). Inflation, rising prices and the cost of living is a main priority across all age groups and with peak results recorded in Portugal (57%), France (56%), Slovakia (56%), Croatia (54%) and Estonia (54%).
As topics the EP should address with priority, 46% of Maltese respondents identify inflation, rising prices, and the cost of living, 35% more support for public health, 29% migration and asylum, whereas 14% would prioritise the EU’s defence and security. As in other EU countries, in Malta, inflation, rising prices, and the cost of living are the main concern across all age groups, from those aged 15 and over to those aged to 55 and over.
As shown by the EP’s previous survey, inflation and the cost of living had already played a major role as a driving force in the last European elections and the economic situation continues to be a main concern for many Europeans. A third (33%) expect their standard of living to decrease in the next five years, seven points more than in June-July 2024. This is the case for 53% of French respondents (+8 pp) and 47% of Germans (+15 pp). In Malta 33% expect their standard of living to increase, and 22% expect it to decrease, both values up by 6pp each.
