The latest Eurobarometer poll found that 89 percent of respondents believe EU member states should act more unitedly to face global threats.
Eighty-six percent want the European Union to have a stronger voice on the world stage, while 73 percent support allocating more EU funds to address international security challenges.
Amid heightened geopolitical tensions, the European Parliament said the findings reflect growing public anxiety about the future and rising expectations for coordinated European action.
The survey showed that geopolitical instability is weighing heavily on public sentiment, with 52 percent of respondents saying they are pessimistic about the future of the world.
Forty-one percent expressed pessimism about their own country's future, while 39 percent were pessimistic about the future of the EU.
Despite these concerns, Europeans remain optimistic about their personal lives. Seventy-six percent said they are optimistic about their own future and that of their family.
"Geopolitical tensions shape Europeans’ daily sense of security," European Parliament head Roberta Metsola said in a statement.
Citizens expect the EU to "protect, be prepared and act together," she added. "That is exactly what a stronger and more self-assertive Europe must deliver. Europe is our strongest shield."
The European Parliament’s Autumn 2025 Eurobarometer survey was conducted by pollster Verian between November 6 and 30, 2025, across all 27 EU member states.
(gs)
Source: europarl.europa.eu