EP Spring 2026 Eurobarometer: More Romanians view EU as a place of stability, EU membership as beneficial

 The proportion of Romanians who view the European Union as a place of stability in a troubled world increased to 74% since the last Eurobarometer survey last autumn, and Romania's EU membership is considered beneficial by 73% of citizens, a significant development in the same period of time, according to the findings of the April-May survey published on Wednesday morning by the European Parliament.As many as 74% of Europeans view EU membership as beneficial and 21% not so, up one percentage point from the November 2025 Eurobarometer. According to an EP statement released on Wednesday, this is the highest result ever recorded in a Eurobarometer survey for this question since it was first asked in 1983, only matched before in 2025. As many as 73% of Romanians have the same opinion, up six percentage points from the previous survey, and 23% have a contrary opinion.When asked about the benefits of EU membership, EU's contribution to protecting peace and strengthening security is seen as the main and growing benefit of membership (40%); EU membership contributes to improving cooperation between our country and the other EU countries (34%) and the EU contributes to economic growth in our country (28%). As far as Romanians are concerned, the main benefit identified was that the EU brings people new work opportunities (37%), followed by the EU contributes to protecting peace and strengthening security (28%), the EU contributes to economic growth and the EU improves people's standard of living (25% each).Romanians are much more optimistic than the rest of Europeans about the future of the world, with 57% saying they are optimistic and 38% pessimistic, versus 38% optimistic and 58% pessimistic.Romanians' opinions are closer to those of other EU citizens when it comes to the future of the EU, of their country or of their family and themselves. As many as 60% of Romanians are optimistic about the future of the EU, as against 36% pessimistic, while at EU level these proportions are 59% and 37% respectively.Regarding the future of their country, 60% of Romanians say they are optimistic, up one percentage point from the November 2025 barometer, while, at the opposite end, 38% say they are pessimistic, the same since the previous survey at EU level. Regarding the future of their families and themselves, 76% of Romanians say they are optimistic, up four percentage points since the previous Eurobarometer, which is identical to that at European level.When asked what feelings best define their current emotional state, European citizens answered first of all uncertainty (44%), hope (43%), confidence (33%) and serenity (27%), while Romanians' chosen answers were hope (49%),confidence (40%), uncertainty (37%) and helplessness (29%).As many as 74% of Romanians agree with the statement that the EU is a place of stability in a troubled world (up five percentage points from the previous survey), as against a 75% EU average, and 23% of Romanians and 22% of Europeans respectively disagree with this statement.Then, 54% of Romanians believe that the role of the EU to protect European citizens against global crises and security risks should become more important, up seven percentage points, as against 68% at EU level (+2 pp). On the other hand, 26% of Romanians believe that the role of the EU should become less important as against only 11% at EU level.When asked what the EU should focus on to strengthen its position in the world, EU citizens answered first defence and security (39%, +1 pp); energy independence, resources and infrastructure (35%, +6 pp), and competitiveness, economy and industry (32%, the same as in November 2025). Romanians also put defence and security in the first place (36%, + 2 pp), next come competitiveness, economy and industry (27%, + 2 pp), and in third place on equal footing energy independence and food security and agriculture, with 26% each, with the second increasing five percentage points from the previous Eurobarometer.As for the topics they would like to be addressed as a priority by the European Parliament, the opinions at EU level coincide with those of Romanians, although the percentages differ. Thus, EU citizens put inflation, rising prices and the cost of living (47%), economy and job creation (35%) and EU defence and security (34%) in the top three places. Romanians had the same options, but the proportions in which they chose these topics are 42%, 41% and 31%, respectively. In fourth place is agriculture and food security in Romania (28%), a topic that concerns 20% of respondents at EU level."At a time of global uncertainty, Europeans increasingly see the European Union as a beacon of stability. In a troubled world, that trust is Europe's greatest asset. It comes with a clear expectation that we act decisively to deliver security, prosperity and opportunity for our citizens,"according to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.In terms of satisfaction with quality of life, 83% of EU citizens say they are very or fairly satisfied, and 17% are not very satisfied or not at all satisfied. The proportion of Romanians satisfied with their quality of life is 63%, and of those dissatisfied is 37%.When asked in which of the following areas could changes most improve your quality of life, EU citizens picked financial situation and ability to afford daily life (42%); quality and accessibility of healthcare (37%), and physical and mental health (35%), while Romanians immediately picked after financial situation (38%), job security and working conditions (33%) and quality and accessibility of healthcare (29%).The EP Spring 2026 Eurobarometer survey was conducted by the research agency Verian between April 9 and May 4, 2026, in all 27 EU member states. The survey was conducted face-to-face, and in some member states - Cyprus, Denmark, Malta, Finland and Sweden - additional video interviews were also conducted. In total, 26,421 interviews were conducted and the findings at EU level were weighted according to the size of the population in each country.