Main findings from the Autumn 2025 European Parliament survey
On 4 February 2026, the European Parliament published the results of its Autumn2025 Eurobarometer. The survey was conducted face‑to‑face by Verian in all 27 EU Member States in November 2025 and offers a comprehensive picture of public opinion on major current issues and attitudes towards the European Union.
A context shaped by global instability
The findings are clearly marked by the war in Ukraine, rising geopolitical tensions, and a deteriorating international climate. More than half of EU citizens (52%) report feeling pessimistic about the future of the world. This sentiment is reflected in widespread concerns: large majorities worry about active conflicts near the EU (72%), terrorism (67%), cyberattacks from non‑EU countries (66%), and natural disasters exacerbated by climate change (65%).
A majority of citizens remain optimistic about the EU’s future, though less than before
Citizens remain more optimistic about the future of the EU(57%) than about the world as a whole. However, this optimism has dropped by nine points in just six months (since May 2025), highlighting how international instability increasingly affects perceptions within Europe.
Economic pressures weigh heavily
The challenges citizens identify are not only geopolitical. Inflation, rising prices and the cost of living remain the top priority for the European Parliament to address (41%), followed by the economy and job creation(35%), and then EU defence and security (34%). While more than half of citizens(54%) expect their standard of living to remain stable over the next five years, over a quarter (28%) anticipate a decline. This indicates that socio‑economic concerns remain central and may intensify in the current context.
Expectations for a stronger, more united European Union
In this difficult environment, citizens express clear expectations regarding the EU’s role. They want the Union to focus on strengthening Europe’s global position through defence and security (40%),competitiveness, the economy and industry (32%), and energy independence (29%).Two‑thirds (66%) believe the EU’s role in protecting citizens against global crises and security risks should become more important. An overwhelming majority (89%) also calls for greater unity among Member States to tackle today’s challenges.
Resilience of support for the EU and for the European Parliament
Despite the negative geopolitical and economic back drop, public perceptions of the EU remain resilient. A strong majority of citizens(62%) view EU membership as a “good thing”, and nearly half (49%) have a positive image of the EU, while only 17% hold a negative one, and just above a third have a neutral image(34%). Importantly, most citizens (59%) would like the European Parliament to play a more significant role in the future, a view shared by majorities in 19 of the 27 Member States.
For more details, consult the European Parliament publication.