The European Parliament shared this information on Tuesday, 25th March when it presented its Eurobarometer Winter Survey 2025. The new EU-wide survey has revealed that 59% of Irish citizens would like to see the European Parliament play more of an important role, while 91% indicated that they believe Ireland has benefited from EU membership.
This is the highest recorded level since the EU started asking respondents that question in 1983. The research was commissioner by the European Parliament and undertaken across Jan and Feb. According to European Parliament spokesperson Delphine Colard – “history has shown that in times of crisis, citizens turn to the EU for leadership.”
The survey shows that Europeans have high expectations from the EU in its role to protect them against global challenges and security risks. Large majorities are looking for an EU that protects them by focussing on security, defence, and the economy. There is wide agreement among EU citizens that EU Member States should be more united to face current global challenges and that the European Union needs more means to deal with the challenges ahead. Citizens are also increasingly aware of the benefits that come with EU membership and see a more important role for the European Parliament. The impacts of inflation and rising cost of living are a major concern, with significant shares of EU citizens 33% (25% for Ireland) expecting their living standards to decrease in the coming years.
For detailed insights, consult the EP Winter Survey 2025 here