Irish people continue to be the most optimistic about the future of the EU: Spring 2024 Eurobarometer

On average across the EU, 62% of people surveyed were optimistic about the future of the EU with sentiment lowest in France at 46%. The figure for Ireland was down 3 percentage points (from 83%) in Autumn 2023.

The survey also shows that 66% of Irish people continue to have a positive view of the EU (up 2 percentage points since the previous survey in Autumn 2023) and second highest overall after Portugal at 68% (up 4 points). The EU average was 44% (unchanged). People in France (33%), Czechia (35%), and Slovenia (37%) were the least likely to have a positive view of the EU.

The survey was carried out between 3 April and 9 May 2024 with 1,003 people being interviewed face-to-face in Ireland.

Key findings       

• 56% (down 1 percentage point since the Autumn 2023 Eurobarometer) of Irish people trust the EU, above the EU average of 49%. Trust in the EU was highest in Denmark (69%), Lithuania and Portugal (both 68%) and lowest in France at 34%.
• 43% of Irish people trust their national government, joint 5^th highest in the EU where the average was 33%. Trust in national governments was highest in Luxembourg (72%) and Denmark (54%), the only EU countries with a majority, and lowest in France and Slovenia (19%).
• 75% of Irish people agree that the EU is a place of stability in a troubled world, joint 8th highest in the EU where the average is 67%. Highest in Portugal at 85% and lowest in Estonia at 55%
• 84% of Irish people feel they are citizens of the EU, 6th highest in the EU and well above the EU average of 74%. People in Luxembourg (88%) were the most likely to feel they are citizens of the EU while those in Bulgaria (59%) were the least likely.

Economy

• 59% of Irish people judge the current situation of the European economy to be good, 6th highest in the EU and well above the average of 47%. People in France were the least likely to agree at 29%.
• 60% of Irish people judge the current situation of their national economy as good, 7^th highest in the EU and well above the EU average of 39%. People in Denmark (86%) were the most likely to judge the current situation of their national economy to be good while those in Greece (18%) were the least likely. The survey also shows that 24% of Irish people think the economic situation in Ireland will improve over the next 12 months while 46% think it will be the same and 24% think it will worsen.

Main concerns of Irish people

• The war in Ukraine is considered to be the most important issue facing the EU for people in the EU (34%) and in Ireland (46%).
• For Irish people, the next most important concerns facing the EU are: 
  • immigration (35%) 
  • rising prices/inflation/cost of living at 22%.
• For Irish people, the most important concerns facing Ireland are:
  • housing at 64%
  • rising prices/inflation/cost of living at 40%
  • health at 29%
  • immigration at 20%
• When asked what actions at EU level would have the highest positive impact on their life in the short term, i.e. the next year, Irish people selected the following: 
  • ensuring peace and stability (37%)
  • security food, health and industry supplies in the EU (34%)
  • managing migration (33%)
  • improving access to housing in the EU (32%).
• When Irish people were asked what crisis had the greatest influence on their attitudes to the future, they were most likely to say the pandemic and other health issues (43%) followed by Russia's war in Ukraine (38%).

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

• 84% of Irish people support the imposition of economic sanctions on the Russian government, companies and individuals, 7^th highest in the EU where the average is 72%. Support was highest in Sweden (95%) and Portugal (91%) and lowest in Cyprus (40%).
• 68% of Irish people support the financing the purchase and supply of military equipment to Ukraine, above the EU average of 60%. Support was highest in Sweden at 93% and lowest in Bulgaria and Cyprus (both 32%).
• 85% of Irish people also support welcoming people fleeing the war in Ukraine, just above the EU average of 83%. Support was highest in Denmark and Sweden (both 97%) and lowest in Czechia (65%) and Bulgaria (64%).
• 74% of Irish people support granting EU candidate status to Ukraine, 5^th highest in the EU. The average was 60% with support highest in Sweden at 87% and lowest in Czechia at 37%.

Background

The Standard Eurobarometer 101 (Spring 2024) was conducted between 3 and 28 April 2024 across the 27 Member States. 26,399 EU citizens were interviewed face-to-face.

In Ireland, 1003 people were interviewed face-to-face between 4 and 24 April 2024.

For More Information

The full report, including an Ireland fact sheet, is available at: Standard Eurobarometer 101