European Citizens Most Concerned About Border Conflicts and Disinformation, Survey Shows

Active wars near European Union borders and the spread of disinformation have emerged as the top security concerns among EU citizens, according to a recent Eurobarometer survey released by the European Parliament.

The poll, conducted in autumn last year, revealed that 72% of respondents expressed significant worry about ongoing conflicts near EU borders, while 69% cited disinformation as a major concern. These findings come amid escalating geopolitical tensions in Europe’s neighborhood and growing recognition of information warfare’s impact on democratic institutions.

“What is striking is to see that it’s across member states,” European Parliament spokesperson Delphine Colard told Euronews. “Maybe the Nordics or the Eastern countries were the first to flag those security and defence concerns in the past, and now it’s very much generalised.”

The survey highlights a broader shift in European public opinion, as security concerns once concentrated in regions historically more sensitive to Russian influence have now permeated the entire bloc. This transformation reflects the evolving security landscape in Europe following recent geopolitical developments.

Other significant security worries among Europeans include terrorism (67%), climate change-amplified natural disasters (66%), and cyber-attacks from non-EU countries (66%). The digital realm features prominently among citizens’ concerns, with 68% worried about hate speech, AI-generated misleading content, and online data protection issues. Additionally, 67% expressed concern about threats to freedom of speech.

“We’ve seen for the last year a bit of attacks on multilateralism, on values, a raise of hate speech or disinformation online. We’ve seen AI tools more instrumentalised to seek to polarise or to distort a bit the information space,” Colard explained. “So those threats or those risks are probably very perceived by the citizens.”

These security concerns are directly influencing citizens’ priorities for European Parliament action. The survey shows Europeans want lawmakers to focus primarily on tackling inflation (41%), followed by job creation (35%) and defense (34%).

Colard noted that the current agenda established by EU institutions largely aligns with these citizen priorities. “The question of competitiveness has been very high on the agenda, and it features all the questions of economy, industry, but also what citizens expect from the Parliament the most, which is tackling the inflation, high costs of living,” she said.

Defense and security have become particularly contentious topics, with ongoing discussions about enhancing European defense capabilities, increasing military investment, and continuing support for Ukraine. According to Colard, matters related to online protection have been discussed at nearly every parliamentary plenary session since the last European elections.

The survey also revealed strong support for European unity, with 89% of respondents believing European countries should be more united in facing global challenges. Additionally, 86% want the EU to have a stronger international voice. Colard summarized citizens’ expectations, saying they want the EU “to protect” and “to be prepared to act together,” with two-thirds (66%) desiring better EU protection against global crises and risks.

Despite these concerns, overall sentiment toward EU membership remains largely positive, with 62% of citizens viewing their country’s EU membership favorably. However, the survey notes that public perception of the bloc has weakened compared to May 2025 figures, suggesting shifting attitudes as Europeans navigate multiple concurrent challenges.

These findings come at a critical juncture for the European Union as it confronts both internal and external pressures, from economic challenges to security threats, while attempting to maintain cohesion among its 27 member states.