Roberta METSOLA, EP President, comments the European Parliament’s Spring 2022 Eurobarometer survey was carried out between 19 April and 16 May in all Member States. The survey was conducted face-to-face and completed with online interviews where necessary. 26,578 interviews were completed, with EU results weighted according to the size of the population in each country. EP Spring Eurobarometer survey is looking at traditional indicators (e.g. image of the EP and the EU, membership in the EU, EP policy priorities and core values to defend); questions on the war in Ukraine and how citizens experience its economic consequences; as well as a new set of questions regarding voting propensity for and importance of the EE24.

statement

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

Eurobarometer (T)

president's agenda

European Parliament Spring Eurobarometer 2022: statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/42889326/1655458119987_I227142Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Just like during the COVID 19 pandemic, the European Union has grown in unity and resolve in the face of the war in Ukraine. Our citizens support and welcome this and their approval of the EU is increasing accordingly. Today, almost two thirds of Europeans see EU membership as a good thing. The image of the European Union is better than ever before in the past 15 years. And over the past six months alone, the importance and value of EU membership has increased significantly in most countries, particularly in Lithuania, Malta and Estonia. The aggressiveness of Russia towards Ukraine has underlined dramatically that we are stronger together. It reminded us of the values that are at our very core- freedom and democracy. 

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We have to support Ukrainians currently fighting to defend those values. From the outset of the war, our citizens have pushed us to react with unity, solidarity and determination. It is to a large part our public opinion that has driven leaders to take unprecedented decisions to provide military, financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine. We must remain steadfast in our support for Ukraine and start planning our long term engagement in the region, including decisions on candidate status, beyond the immediate emergency help to Ukraine. Europe must lead and must remain in the lead.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, 40% of Europeans say that their standard of living has already been reduced. But let me be clear- a broad majority of Europeans across the EU think that the EU has shown solidarity, unity and speed in its reaction to this war. Eight in ten citizens approve economic sanctions against Russia. We see even more than that. And I believe that this is truly a sign of our European resilience and unity. 59% of Europeans see the defense of common European values, such as freedom and democracy, as a priority. Even if that were to affect prices and the cost of living. <i></i>

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, But there are increasing economic worries and they are also reflected in the political priorities the citizens want the European Parliament to focus on. The fight against poverty and social exclusion is now mentioned first. This is a clear message and the European Union is working relentlessly to mitigate the effects of the war. Our aim needs to remain to disentangle losses from Russian energy and ensure our energy independence. The Russian war has sped up the EU's green transition to become carbon neutral. Achieving our green deal objectives is the best way to wean ourselves off toxic dependencies from unreliable partners.