The majority of European Union citizens approve of the EU’s support for Ukraine following full-scale Russia’s invasion, according the European Parliament’s Autumn 2022 Eurobarometer survey conducted by the EP from 12 October until 7 November, 2022, and published on Wednesday.
74% of EU citizens approve of the European Union’s support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion, according to the survey conducted between 12 October and 7 November 2022. In all EU Member States, a majority of citizens approve of the EU’s support, with highest support levels shown in Sweden (97%), Finland (95%), the Netherlands (93%), Portugal (92%), and Denmark (92%). Ten months into the war in Ukraine, support for the concrete measures taken by the EU – such as sanctions against the Russian government or financial, military or humanitarian support to Ukraine – continues to be equally high at 73%, according to the key insights of the survey.
In addition, the survey confirms European citizens’ “steadfast commitment not only to supporting Ukraine, but moreover to the values the European Union is built upon”.
“Asked which values the European Parliament should defend as a matter of priority, democracy (36%) is mentioned most frequently, followed by the protection of human rights in the EU and worldwide (29%) and freedom of speech and thought (28%). Citizens want to see these founding values of the EU protected and defended in the EU and abroad. These very same values are defended on a daily basis by Ukrainians since the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops,” reads the press release.
President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, welcoming the results of the survey said: “Russian aggression has caused terrible human suffering and massive destruction. The courage and resilience of Ukrainians in the face of terror is impressive. The best response and support we as European Union can give is European solidarity and European unity. Ukrainians can count on the unwavering support of the European Parliament.”
Furthermore, the survey asked about the impact of the Russia’s war in Ukraine on the European citizens. “Because of the war and its consequences, close to two thirds of EU citizens believe that their life will change (65%), +4pp compared to April/May 2022,” read the press release.