The vast majority (74%) of EU citizens approve of the European Union’s support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey conducted between 12 October and 7 November 2022.
In all EU Member States, a majority of citizens approve of the EU’s support for Ukraine, with the highest levels of support were found in Sweden (97%), Finland (95%), and the Netherlands (93%). Following 10 months of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, support for EU measures, such as sanctions against Russia and military or humanitarian support for Ukraine, is supported by 74% of the EU population.
"Parliament’s latest Eurobarometer survey confirms European citizens’ steadfast commitment not only to supporting Ukraine but moreover to the values that the European Union is built upon," a press release by the European Parliament said. In total, 26,443 people from all 27 Member States were interviewed by the survey.
Nevertheless, despite high levels of support for the EU’s policy towards Russia’s invasion, EU citizens understand that the war is set to have a significant impact on their ordinary lives. Close to two-thirds of EU citizens believe that their lives will change as a result of the war, up four percentage points compared to the last survey at the start of the war.
At the same time, citizens expressed enthusiasm about their country’s membership of the EU and the values that it represents. As many as 72% of respondents say that their country has benefited from its membership, notably in terms of maintaining peace and security (36%).
Compared to last year, more EU citizens said that the EU acted to safeguard security. According to the European Parliament, this indicates a reaffirmation of the EU’s values in the context of the war in Ukraine.
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Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, welcomed the results of the survey. “Russian aggression has caused terrible human suffering and massive destruction. The courage and resilience of Ukrainians in face of terror is impressive. The best response and support we as the European Union can give is European solidarity and European unity. Ukrainians can count on the unwavering support of the European Parliament.”
More globally, EU citizens would like to see the European Union defend its values, both at home and abroad. When asked which values the European Parliament should defend as a matter of priority, democracy (36%) was most frequently cited, followed by human rights in the EU and abroad (29%), and the freedom of speech and thought (28%).
