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66% of European citizens want the EU to take a more significant role in protecting against global crises and security risks, according to the 2025 “Eurobarometer” survey by the European Parliament. At the national level, the results of the survey on a stronger role for the EU range from 87% in Sweden and 75% of Greeks to 47% in Romania and 44% in Poland.
At the same time, 74% of EU citizens and 65% of citizens in Greece believe that their country has benefited from being a member state. As the main reason why being a member state is considered beneficial, respondents in the EU cite the EU’s contribution to maintaining peace and enhancing security (35%).
The overwhelming majority of EU citizens believe that member states should be more united to tackle current global challenges (89% in the EU, compared to 94% in Greece) and that the EU needs more resources to address future challenges (76% in the EU).
Defense and security (36%), as well as competitiveness, the economy, and industry (32%), are recognized by European citizens as areas where the EU should focus more on strengthening its position in the world. These are followed by energy independence (27%), food security and agriculture (25%), education, and research (23%).
The respondents in Greece prioritize enhancing competitiveness, the economy, and industry (42%), followed by defense and security (36%).
As priorities they would like the European Parliament to set, EU citizens mention inflation, rising prices, and the cost of living (43%), followed by EU defense and security (31%), combating poverty and social exclusion (31%), supporting the economy and creating new jobs (29%).
Inflation, rising prices, and the cost of living are key priorities across all age groups, with the highest rates recorded in Portugal (57%), France (56%), Slovakia (56%), Croatia (54%), and Estonia (54%). At the same time, more than half of the respondents in Greece (52%) endorse that inflation, rising prices, and the cost of living are issues that need to be addressed as a priority, followed by the economy and job creation (48%).
Regarding the economic situation, one third (33%) of European citizens (39% of Greeks) expect that their standard of living will decline over the next five years. The same applies to 53% of respondents in France and 47% in Germany.
Examining the values Europeans would like the European Parliament to defend, among European citizens, peace ranks first (45%), followed by democracy (32%) and the protection of human rights at the European and global level (22%). In Greece, respondents prioritize peace with 53%, the rule of law with 33%, and democracy with 29%.
Two-thirds of citizens support that the European Parliament should have a stronger role
According to past trends, during periods of crisis, citizens look to the EU for decisive action and solutions. When it is perceived that the EU rallies and delivers results, support levels are high – something that is observed today, with 50% of respondents having a positive view of the EU. The positive view of the EP remains stable at a high level (41%). A few months after the beginning of the legislative period, 62% of citizens in the EU state that they would like to see the European Parliament play a more significant role, an increase of six points compared to February-March 2024, a few months before the European elections of June 2024.
Overall, Greek respondents have a positive perception of the European Parliament, the European Union, and the country’s accession to the EU, with a rate of 38%. However, the majority of respondents in Greece (42%) have a neutral view of the EP, although 75% in Greece believe that the role of the EP is very important.
The 2025 Eurobarometer of the European Parliament was conducted by the research company Verian between January 9 and February 4, 2025, in the 27 EU member states. The data was collected through face-to-face interviews, with additional video interviews (CAVI) conducted in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Malta, the Netherlands, and Sweden, totaling 26,354. The results at the EU level are weighted according to the population size of each country. (25/3/2025)