A Eurobarometer survey in all EU member states published one year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shows continued strong solidarity of Europeans with Ukraine and their support for the actions undertaken to support the country and its people.
The “Winter 2022-2023 – Standard Eurobarometer” (EB 98) was conducted through face-to-face and online interviews between 12 January and 6 February 2023. Ca 26,500 EU citizens were interviewed across the 27 member states.
As in a previous Flash Eurobarometer in May 2022, the new survey also shows significant differences by country that may depend on worries about rising living costs, concerns about the on-going war, dependence on Russian energy or information manipulation in media.
The survey includes several questions about the respondents’ opinions of the economic situation in their countries and their expectations for the next year. People replied that they are mostly worried about health, environment and climate change, and energy supply but the most important issue currently facing the EU is the “international situation” according to the survey.
The European Commission highlights the fact that EU citizens continue to show their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine. Overall, a majority of European citizens (56%) are satisfied with both their own country’s and the EU’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A majority of citizens in most EU member states support the EU response but some countries differ from this pattern with lower figures.
As regards the concrete support measures taken by the EU, the figures are overall higher. 91% of respondents agree with providing humanitarian support to the people affected by the war and 88% are in favour of welcoming into the EU people fleeing the war.
A large majority of EU citizens (84%) agree that the EU should reduce its dependency on Russian sources of energy as soon as possible. Large majorities consider that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a threat to the security of the EU (81 %) and the security of their own countries (76 %). A similar majority (78 %) also think that the EU is defending European values by standing against Russia’s invasion.
Providing financial support to Ukraine is approved by 77% of the respondents. Imposing economic sanctions on Russian government, companies and individuals is supported by a majority of citizens in most member states and gains overall the support of 74% of the interviewees. 67 % are also in favour of banning Russian state-owned media from broadcasting in the EU.
Crucially for Ukraine’s defense, overall, 65 % support EU financing of the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine. As previously reported, the breakdown of total assistance by financial and military support to Ukraine differs by country. Even in Hungary, which has refused to provide any weapons, 50 % of the respondents are in favour of military support to Ukraine.
Finally, 62% say they are optimistic about the future of the EU, a figure which is similar to the level recorded in February 2022, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The figure varies widely by EU member state as the economy and other issues besides the on-going war continue to worry EU citizens.
M. Apelblat
The Brussels Times
