Europeans largely desire a strong, united, and independent continent but doubt its capacity to reach this goal, according to a recent study. This continent-wide crisis of confidence is reportedly creating an environment conducive to far-right narratives of decline.
The report, which involved 5,800 interviews across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and the UK, alongside an analysis of European discourse in 15 countries, portrays a public that is ambitious but disillusioned. It found that 68% of respondents described Europe in terms of "general deterioration or loss of normality," while only 12% saw the current period as one of "European awakening and renewal."
Many respondents acknowledged significant challenges for Europe, including war (43%), economic pressures (33%), and the need for greater international autonomy (29%). Despite this, 74% felt Europe was not handling these issues well, and 56% believed its future was "in danger."
The study's author, Pawel Zerka of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) thinktank, stated that the issue is not a lack of desire for a stronger Europe, but rather a diminishing belief in its achievability. He referred to this as an "imagination gap," where people can envision their desired Europe but struggle to see a credible path to it.