Europeans anxious over wars and push for more EU independence, study finds

Published on 24/03/2026 - 8:00 GMT+1

As the warfare successful Ukraine enters its 5th twelvemonth and the warfare successful the Middle East rages on, much than 7 successful 10 EU respondents accidental they are "highly worried" astir the progressive conflicts adjacent the European Union, according to the latest Eurobarometer.

Among the 16 EU countries wherever this was the astir communal concern, Spanish (84%), Italian (83%), and Cypriot (80%) respondents were the astir apt to explicit important uneasiness astir the wars.

So far, Cyprus has been the subordinate authorities peculiarly affected by the escalating warfare successful the Middle East.

In aboriginal March, British subject bases successful Akrotiri, Cyprus, were targeted with Iranian drone attacks, with 1 drone punching a spread successful an craft hangar reportedly utilized by US spy planes and the 2 others being intercepted.

These incidents led Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to authorities astatine the EU leaders' acme successful Brussels connected Thursday, 19 March, that helium sought for Cyprus and the UK to person "an unfastened and frank discussion" astir the aboriginal of British RAF bases successful Cyprus.

The European Council has besides "acknowledged" Cyprus's volition to initiate a treatment with the UK connected the country's RAF bases successful Cyprus and "stands acceptable to supply assistance arsenic needed", noted a property merchandise connected 19 March.

How is the EU's effect to geopolitical instability viewed by Europeans?

EU leaders look incapable to scope a statement connected however to attack Europe's defence.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has ruled retired the likelihood of coping without US support.

“If anyone thinks that the European Union, oregon Europe arsenic a whole, tin support itself without the US, support connected dreaming. You can't. We can't," Rutte said successful the European Parliament astatine the extremity of January.

Meanwhile, contempt having antithetic approaches, France and Spain hold that Europe needs to basal connected its ain 2 feet without the interference of non-EU countries.

EU citizens thin towards the latter: two-thirds of Europeans would similar the EU to play a greater relation successful protecting them against planetary crises and information risks.

Spaniards, Italians and Cypriots thin to beryllium the astir anxious astir the EU's dependence connected non-EU countries for defence.

In contrast, the lowest levels of interest came from Slovenia (40%), Latvia, Estonia, and Czechia (all 3 astatine 41%).

EU's reliance connected energy

Russia's full-scale penetration of Ukraine triggered a European vigor dilemma, which the ongoing warfare successful the Middle East has threatened to worsen.

As prices skyrocketed successful 2022 and proceed to soar, EU citizens are acrophobic astir the EU's reliance connected non-EU countries for its vigor supply.

The largest shares of those highly disquieted astir this were seen successful Italy (78%), Spain (75%), and Poland (73%), portion the lowest levels of interest were recorded successful Denmark (38%), Lithuania (39%), and Sweden (43%).

89% of respondents accidental that EU Member States should beryllium much agreed to look existent planetary challenges, and 86% privation the EU to person a stronger dependable astatine the planetary level.