Citizens singled out the bloc’s contribution to protecting peace and security as the most important advantage of EU membership, with 40 percent of respondents listing it in their top three.
They also listed defense and security; energy independence; and competitiveness as three areas the bloc should focus on to strengthen its position in the world. Energy independence in particular has grown as a topic of importance for Europeans, against a backdrop of increased energy prices in the aftermath of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran.
“At a time of global uncertainty, Europeans increasingly see the European Union as a beacon of stability. In a troubled world, that trust is Europe’s greatest asset,” said European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in a statement accompanying the polling.
Not all countries were equally satisfied with the benefits of EU membership. While more than 90 percent of people interviewed in Malta, Denmark, Luxembourg and Portugal said the EU had been beneficial, that share dropped to about 60 percent in Greece, Austria, France and Bulgaria.
Eurobarometer interviewed more than 26,000 citizens aged 15 or older between May and April across all EU member countries.