Eurobarometer: Optimism about the future of the EU at its highest since 2009

Optimism about the future of the EU has reached its highest level since 2009 and trust in the EU remains at its highest since 2008. Irish respondents were the most optimistic about the future of the EU at 85% compared to an EU average of 66%. And they were the second most likely at 71% to trust the EU after Portugal at 73%.

The majority of Europeans are satisfied with the measures taken by the EU and by national governments against the coronavirus pandemic and think that the “NextGenerationEU” recovery plan will be effective in responding to the economic effects of the pandemic.

A large majority (72%) of Irish people are satisfied with the measures taken by the EU to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, second highest after Malta at 73% and considerably above the EU average of 51%. A large majority (67%) of Irish people are also satisfied with the measures taken by the Irish government to fight the pandemic.

The survey also shows that almost two-thirds of Europeans trust the EU to make the right decisions in the future to respond to the pandemic. In Ireland, this figure rises to 79%, the third highest in the EU.

Other findings for Ireland:

• 71% of Irish people trust the EU, second highest after Portugal (73%) and well above average of 49%.
• 58% of Irish people judge the situation of their national economy to be good, well above the EU average of 40%, and up 16 percentage points since the winter 2020/2021 survey. Luxembourg was in top place at 89%.
• 90% of Irish people support a European economic and monetary union with one single currency, the euro, third highest after Belgium (92%) and Slovenia (91%). The EU average was 70%.
• The 3 most important issues facing the EU for Irish people are: the environment and climate change (45%), the economic situation (30%) and health (27%). The most important issues facing the EU for EU citizens are: the economic situation (27%), the environment and climate change (25%) and immigration (25%).
• The main concerns for Irish people at national level are housing (59%), health (44%), and rising prices/cost of living (26%). Housing was also the most mentioned issue in Luxembourg (64%) and was the second most mentioned issue in the Netherlands (40%).
• 88% of Irish people feel they are citizens of the EU, joint highest with Luxembourg. The EU average is 72%.
• 70% of Irish people, 4th highest, think their country’s economy will recover “in 2023 or later”, while 20% think it will recover in 2022.

The survey was conducted in June-July 2021.