Eurobarometer: Security and Defense Have Become a Top Priority for EU Citizens

According to hvylya.net: According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, defense and security (37%) are the main priority for most Europeans in strengthening the EU's global influence. This outweighs competitiveness, economy, and industry (32%), as well as energy independence, resources, and infrastructure (27%).

Defense and security emerged as the main priorities in most EU member states, such as France, Germany, and Poland. Meanwhile, in countries including Italy and Greece, competitiveness, economy, and industry became the most important.

Different EU countries also defined their priorities, for instance, food security and agriculture dominate in Slovenia, Slovakia, and Romania, while democracy and human rights are in focus in Sweden and Malta.

The EU's image has also improved, with more than half of respondents (52%) feeling positively about the Union, which is 2% higher than in the previous survey, and this is the third occurrence in the last two decades, experts noted.

Overall, 73% of respondents claim that EU membership has been beneficial for their countries. The most positive attitudes towards EU membership were found in Denmark, Ireland, and Malta, while in Austria, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic, it is less popular. The main benefits are considered to be peace and security (37%) and improved cooperation among member countries (36%).

The Importance of Unity in Addressing Global Issues

Additionally, 90% of Europeans believe that EU member states should be united in addressing global problems, and 68% assert that the European Union's role in protecting citizens from global crises should be strengthened.

The new Eurobarometer survey has indicated that for most Europeans, the most important priority for the EU is defense and security. This reflects a growing focus on security matters and underscores the importance of cooperation in the context of strengthening global influence. Respondents also expressed a positive attitude towards the EU and recognized the usefulness of membership for their countries, indicating support for European integration among residents of Europe.