The concern that prevails in the country about international developments is increasing sharply, according to the findings published in the French magazine Le Grand Continent, as on the one hand the citizens recognize it as the biggest, while on the other hand they are particularly wary of the politics of the , with a significant percentage considering it the “enemy of Europe”.
Generalized restlessness
The poll, conducted by Cluster 17 in nine EU countries with a sample of 9,553 people, shows that 51% of Europeans believe there is an “increased” or “very increased” risk of Russia getting into war with their country in the coming years. The degree of concern varies significantly by country: in Poland the percentage reaches 77%, while in France and Germany it hovers just over 50%. In Italy, by contrast, most (65%) consider the threat of war to be small or non-existent.
At the same time, the majority of Europeans appear much less worried about China, with 81% considering a scenario of armed conflict in the coming years unlikely. According to Le Grand Continent, this confirms that Russia remains – in the eyes of European public opinion – the most serious and immediate state threat.
This perception is also accompanied by deep doubt about the ability of EU countries to defend themselves. 69% of respondents believe that their country would not be able to repel a Russian attack. The French appear the most optimistic, which is also linked to their nuclear arsenal, while the Belgians, Italians and Portuguese express an almost universal lack of confidence in their national defense capabilities.
“Enemy of Europe” Trump
At the same time, the findings also record a growing mistrust towards the US, especially in relation to Donald Trump. Almost one in two Europeans (48%) consider the American president “an enemy of Europe”.
The survey also captures wider trends: the majority see immigration as a threat to social cohesion, while a significant proportion of citizens support a reduction in public spending and the number of civil servants.
