Support for the EU among citizens across Europe has reached a record high, with 74 percent saying membership is beneficial due to the bloc’s role in protecting peace and strengthening security, according to a new Eurobarometer study released on Tuesday.
Amid rising security concerns, this marks the highest level of support recorded since the question was first posed in 1983, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
The survey, conducted for the European Parliament, comes after three years of war in Ukraine and growing fears that Russia could target an EU member state in the coming years.
It also reflects uncertainty over the future of US protection for Europe through the NATO alliance, the Reuters news agency reported.
'Europeans want unity'
"According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, almost 9 in 10 EU citizens believe that EU countries should be more united to face current global challenges," the European Parliament said, emphasising that "Europeans want unity."
"The main reason why people think that EU membership is beneficial has changed: protecting peace and strengthening security has gained three points since the summer and is now in first place with 35 percent," the Eurobarometer service said.
The survey, conducted in January and February, gathered responses from 26,354 Europeans.
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Source: PAP, Reuters, europarl.europa.eu