European Barometer: Romanians favor more EU involvement in economy

The European Parliament’s Winter 2025 Eurobarometer survey, released today, shows significant differences between the opinion of Romanians and that of other Europeans regarding the role the EU should play in the continent’s defense. Romanians would prefer more involvement in the economic field than in the military one, are uninterested in global warming, and seek support for job creation.

Only 31% of Romanians believe that the EU should focus on defence and security, while at European level these are priorities for 36% of citizens, and 66% want the EU to take a more important role in protecting them from global crises and security risks. This view is strong among the younger respondents who participated in the survey. At national level, the results for a stronger EU role vary from 87% in Sweden to 47% in Romania and 44% in Poland.
Moreover, Romanian citizens have higher expectations (32%) than the average (25%) regarding the EU’s attention to the food and agricultural sector, but also to supporting the economy and creating jobs (38%, compared to an average of 29%).
Only 22% of Romanians believe that the EU should focus on defending the continent, compared to the EU average of 31%. 89% of European citizens (75% of Romanians) participating in the survey say that EU member states should be more united to face current global challenges.
In this context, 76% of Europeans (71% of Romanian respondents) believe that the European Union needs more means to face future challenges.
All in all, the barometer 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.

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.

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%).

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%).

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 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).

Peace and democracy remain EU core values

Looking at the values Europeans would like the European Parliament to defend, peace (45%), democracy (32%) and the protection of human rights in the EU and worldwide (22%) come first. The results for this question have remained stable, underlining citizens steadfast support for the EU’s founding values and principles.

Two-thirds of citizens support a stronger role for the EP

As historic trend lines show, in moments of crisis citizens look to the EU for decisive actions and solutions. When the EU is perceived as coming together and delivering results, support indicators are high – which is currently the case.  50% of respondents have a positive image of the EU. In the last decade, this positive perception was only higher once (at 52%), in spring 2022 in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The positive image of the EP is stable at a high level (41%). A few months into the legislative term, over six in ten (62%) citizens would like to see the European Parliament play a more important role, a six- percentage point increase compared to February-March 2024, a few months before the June 2024 European elections.

defenseeconomyEUEuropean BarometerEuropean Parliament’s Winter 2025 Eurobarometerglobal warmingjobmilitaryroleRomanians
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  • Panagiotis Spyridis

    Solution is simple: Join the Eurozone asap.