European Union citizens want more unified and bold leadership, survey suggests

Europeans Call for Stronger, More United EU Leadership Amid Global Threats

A recent European Union survey reveals citizens across the bloc are seeking more unified and ambitious leadership as Europe navigates a landscape of increasing military threats, economic challenges, and climate concerns.

The Eurobarometer poll, which surveyed more than 2,600 EU citizens in November through primarily face-to-face interviews, found overwhelming support for a more assertive European Union on the global stage. The survey, with a margin of error of 2 percentage points, was conducted before recent controversial U.S. military actions that have strained transatlantic relations.

According to the results, 69% of respondents want an expanded EU security role in global crises, while 87% support more aggressive diplomatic engagement from Brussels on issues like peace and climate change. A striking 90% called for greater unity across the 27-nation bloc to address key challenges.

The findings reflect growing concerns about external threats, with a majority of citizens expressing they are “highly worried” about conflicts near EU borders, natural disasters fueled by climate change, and the rising threat of cyberwarfare. Defense emerged as the top priority in 18 of the 27 member states, signaling a significant shift in European public sentiment.

Specific anxieties identified in the poll include Russian hybrid warfare tactics, such as drone incursions at European airports and disinformation campaigns. Respondents also expressed concern about artificial intelligence threats, social polarization, foreign interference in elections, and the EU’s dependence on imports for its defense industry.

The survey suggests that attempts by Russia, the United States, and far-right movements to divide the European Union have been largely unsuccessful in the eyes of its citizens. Instead, respondents demonstrated greater confidence in the EU as a whole than in their individual nations, while maintaining optimism about their personal situations despite widespread pessimism about global affairs.

“The contrast between personal confidence and broader uncertainty has important implications, shaping citizens’ priorities, attitudes toward governance, and expectations for cooperation at national, European, and global levels,” the poll concluded.

The results broadly align with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s agenda, which has emphasized a more assertive stance on trade and defense while advocating for greater centralization of EU power in Brussels. Under her leadership, the EU has pursued trade agreements worldwide in response to tariff threats from the United States and export restrictions on critical minerals from China.

This shift in European public opinion comes at a crucial moment for the bloc, which faces numerous external challenges. Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine continues to test European resolve and unity, while economic competition from both the United States and China puts pressure on European industries. Climate change presents another significant challenge, with increasing natural disasters affecting member states across the continent.

The survey’s timing is particularly relevant given recent developments in transatlantic relations. Although the poll was conducted before U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial military operation involving Venezuela and threats regarding Greenland, a Danish territory, these actions have only heightened European concerns about global stability and the reliability of traditional alliances.

As the EU contemplates its future direction, this clear mandate from citizens for stronger, more unified leadership suggests broad public support for deeper integration and a more independent European stance on the world stage, particularly in areas of security, diplomacy, and climate policy.