A Flash Eurobarometer survey in all EU Member States shows large consensus among EU citizens in favour of the EU’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Most Europeans approve of Brussels’ response to the war in Ukraine, according to a Flash Eurobarometer survey conducted in all EU countries, the European Commission says in a statement. The survey also indicates that most Europeans believe that Ukraine is part of Europe and show solidarity with the Ukrainians.
The study also addressed the issue of European sanctions against Russia over the attack on Ukraine, and the support shown by the EU citizens is very high. 8 out of 10 Europeans approve of economic sanctions against Moscow and the Russian oligarchs in order to impose clear economic and political costs on the Russian political elite responsible for the invasion. Moreover, two-thirds of the European citizens support the idea of the Union financing the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine. And three-quarters believe the war in Ukraine shows that „we need greater military cooperation within the EU”.
The survey also shows broad support for the EU’s actions in the field of energy aiming at getting rid of dependency on Russian fossil fuels. More than 80% of Europeans say gas storage in the EU should be filled up to avoid risks of shortage for next winter. There is also a large consensus on the EU taking measures to increase energy efficiency of buildings, transport and goods and to invest in renewable energy.
Also, 9 out of 10 respondents say measures should be taken at the European level to limit the impact of rising energy prices on consumers and companies. 86% of European respondents say that rising energy prices have had a significant impact on their purchasing power.
In terms of humanitarian aid, most Europeans are in favor of the unwavering support to Ukraine and its people. Specifically, more than nine out of ten respondents approve of providing humanitarian support to those affected by the war. Moreover, most Europeans agree with the idea of welcoming in the EU people fleeing the war and approve the financial support provided to Kyiv. Two-thirds of them also agree that ‘Ukraine should join the EU when it is ready’.
As for Romania, 63% of respondents are satisfied with how the European Union has reacted since the beginning of the war in the neighboring country, and this is above the European average. Also, 82% of them say they are satisfied with how Romanian citizens have reacted, while the European average stands at 69 %. Most Romanians believe that, since the beginning of the war, the European Union has shown solidarity, its reaction being characterized by unity and speed. The Eurobarometer was conducted between April 13-20 in all 27 EU Member States. More than 26,000 European citizens were interviewed online.
(Daniela Budu, Radio Romania International)
