The latest Eurobarometer survey (October 2025) recorded a historic shift in public consciousness across Europe. Amid rising external threats, support for the European Union and the single currency has soared to record highs. Europeans view Brussels as their only shield against chaos, but their demands on this protective entity are becoming increasingly stringent.
NEWSROOM IN analyzed the complete survey data to understand how military anxiety coexists with record-high public confidence.
The Primary Fear: War at the Doorstep
☻ Despite ongoing discussions about peace talks, the Russian invasion of Ukraine remains the number one concern for Europe (26%).
☻ A significant 77% of respondents explicitly stated that Russia’s actions pose a direct threat to the security of the entire European Union.
☻ This explains why the demand for “Peace and stability” (42%) leads by a wide margin in the list of factors that would most improve citizens’ lives. This priority currently outweighs concerns over jobs (26%) or prices in stores.
☻ Europeans are demanding rearmament. Nearly 8 out of 10 respondents ( 79% ) support a common EU defense policy. This is the second-highest figure recorded since 2004, signaling the official end of the pacifist era in Europe.
The “Rally Around the Flag” Effect
The more alarming the news, the stronger the faith in the Union.
☻ 74% of citizens believe their country has benefited from EU membership.
☻ 67% describe the European Union as an “island of stability” in a volatile world.
☻ 59% remain optimistic about Europe’s future.
☻ Citizens recognize that nations cannot survive alone. Therefore, 83% demand that Brussels strengthen economic independence to avoid reliance on the whims of external players (whether China or the USA).
The Wallet Paradox: Love the Euro, Fear for Social Services
☻ European economic sentiment is contradictory. Opinions on the state of the economy are evenly split: 46% rate it as good, and 46% as bad. However, confidence in the currency itself is phenomenal: support for the euro has reached an all-time high of 74% across the entire EU (and 82% within the eurozone itself).
☻ Where should the money be spent? This reveals the primary conflict. Although citizens fear war, they do not want tanks purchased at the expense of hospitals. The leading priorities for the EU budget are: social affairs and healthcare (42%), education and youth (36%), and defense and security (35%).
The European electorate presents politicians with a complex challenge: “Protect us with missiles, but dare not cut benefits and healthcare.”
The New Threat: Migration
☻ A significant shift occurred in the “Ranking of Fears.” The issue of immigration (20%) moved into second place, surpassing the abstract category of “international situation.” Coupled with the high priority given to border protection (24% on the priority list), this indicates a demand for a “Fortress Europe”—closed, armed, and economically independent.
Based on this data, the following conclusion can be drawn: Europe in 2025 is a continent that has shed its illusions. Citizens no longer take security for granted. They are prepared to pay for defense and support the unity of the Union because the alternative—chaos beyond its borders—frightens them far more.
