EU’s response to the energy challenges : summary.
Date: 2023-03-13
Institutions: Directorate-General for Communication
Subjects: Russia, Russo-Ukrainian issue, Ukraine, cooperation policy, energy diversification, energy production, energy supply, gas supply, report, security of supply

Flash Eurobarometer 514 

EU’s response to the  
energy challenges  

Summary 

Fieldwork: 
November 2022 
Publication: 
December 2022 

Survey requested and coordinated by the European Commission,  
Directorate-General for Communication 

This document does not represent the point of view of the European Commission.  
The interpretations and opinions contained in it are solely those of the authors. 

Flash Eurobarometer 514 – Ipsos European Public Affairs 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 

EU’s response to the energy challenges 

Summary 

 November 2022 

Survey conducted by Ipsos European Public Affairs at the request of the European Commission, 
Directorate-General for Communication 

Survey coordinated by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication  
(DG COMM “Media Monitoring and Eurobarometer” Unit) 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Project title 

Linguistic version 
Catalogue number 
ISBN 

© European Union, 2022 

Flash Eurobarometer 514 EU’s response to the energy 
challenges – November 2022 
Summary 

EN 
NA-03-22-152-EN-N  
978-92-76-58975-4  
doi:10.2775/592050

https://europa.eu/eurobarometer 

Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

Table of contents  

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 

Section 1. The EU’s energy challenges ...................................................................................................................................... 2 

1.1.  Opinions about rising energy prices ....................................................................................................................... 2 

1.2. 

Support for EU measures related to the energy challenges .................................................................... 3 

1.3.  Willingness to cut down on energy consumption ........................................................................................... 4 

Section  2.  Views  about  the  current  economic  situation  and  expected  impact  of  national  and  EU 
measures .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 

2.1. 

Perceptions of the current economic situation ................................................................................................ 5 

2.2. 

Expectations about the impact of EU and national measures ............................................................... 5 

Section 3. General attitudes towards the war in Ukraine and the response of public authorities .......... 7 

3.1. 

Interest in the war in Ukraine .................................................................................................................................... 7 

3.2.  General satisfaction with the response to the war in Ukraine ............................................................... 7 

3.3.  Opinions on specific EU measures to respond to the war in Ukraine .................................................... 8 

3.4. 

EU unity on the global stage: the effect of the war in Ukraine ............................................................. 9 

Section 4. Solidarity and the state of democracy in the EU ....................................................................................... 10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

Introduction 

On 24 February 2022, the Russian armed forces launched  a large-scale  invasion  of  Ukraine.  As a 
result  of  this  unprovoked  and  unjustified  aggression,  substantial  areas  of  the  Ukrainian  territory 
became areas of war from which many people fled. The European Commission supports Ukraine 
with  emergency  assistance  and  is  closely  cooperating  with  Ukraine's  neighbouring  countries  to 
support them in providing protection for people fleeing the invasion.1 In addition, the European Union 
has  adopted  comprehensive  and  robust  packages  of  sanctions  against  Russia.  Since  the 
second half of 2021, there has been a sharp increase in energy prices in the EU (and worldwide). 
The  price  of  fuels  has  further  risen  as  a  consequence  of  the  war  in  Ukraine.  This  has  also  led  to 
concerns related  to  the security  of  energy supply in the EU,  and Russia’s decision to  suspend  gas 
deliveries to several EU member states has further impacted the situation. The European Commission 
has  proposed  the  ‘REPowerEU’  action  plan  aimed  at  making  Europe  independent  from  Russian 
fossil fuels well before 2030.2   

A Flash Eurobarometer survey was commissioned by the European Commission’s Directorate-General 
for  Communication,  to  obtain  input  from  citizens  in  the  EU  about  their  attitudes  toward  the  EU’s 
response to the energy challenges and the war in Ukraine. This survey represents the second Flash 
Eurobarometer measuring EU citizens’ attitudes about the war in Ukraine and  their  opinions  on  the 
response of public authorities (see Flash Eurobarometer 506).3 

Survey  data  presented  in  this  report  are  weighted  to  known  population  proportions.  The  EU27 
averages are weighted according to the size of the 15+ population of each country. Due to rounding, 
it may also happen that the percentages for separate response options shown in the charts do not 
exactly add up to the totals shown in charts and tables, or mentioned in the text. 

The country abbreviations used in this report correspond to:  

BE 

BG 

CZ 

DK 

DE 

EE 

IE 

EL 

ES 

  Belgium 
  Bulgaria 
  Czechia 
  Denmark 
  Germany 
Estonia 

Ireland 

  Greece 
  Spain 

FR 

HR 

IT 

CY 

LV 

LT 

LU 

HU 

MT 

France 

  Croatia 
Italy 

  Rep. of Cyprus 

Latvia 

Lithuania 

Luxembourg 

  Hungary 
  Malta 

NL 

AT 

PL 

PT 

RO 

SI 

SK 

FI 

SE 

  Netherlands 
  Austria 
Poland 

Portugal 

  Romania 
  Slovenia 
  Slovakia 
Finland 

  Sweden 

1 https://eu-solidarity-ukraine.ec.europa.eu/index_en 
2 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/files/attachment/871871/Factsheet%20-%20REPowerEU.pdf.pdf 
3 https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2772  

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

Section 1. The EU’s energy challenges 

1.1.  Opinions about rising energy prices 

Over 80% of respondents agree that rising energy prices have a significant impact on their 
purchasing power (43% ‘totally agree’ and 42% ‘tend to agree’). A similar share also agree that the 
EU should continue to take actions to reduce its dependency on Russian gas and oil as soon 
as possible (50% ‘totally agree’ and 32% ‘tend to agree’). In comparison, respondents tend to agree 
less frequently with the statement that recent price increases in their country are mainly due 
to Russia’s aggressive behaviour (20% ‘totally agree’ and 36% ‘tend to agree’).  

Q6 

How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? (% EU27) 

Totally agree

Tend to agree

Tend to disagree

Totally disagree

Don’t know

Rising energy prices have a
significant impact on my
purchasing power

The EU should continue to take
actions to reduce its dependency
on Russian gas and oil as soon as
possible

Recent price increases in (OUR 
COUNTRY) are mainly due to 
Russia’s aggressive behaviour

43

42

10

3

2

50

32

8

6

4

20

36

24

14

6

Base: all respondents (n=26 337) 

The  country-level  analysis  shows  that  the  impact  of  rising  energy  prices  is  substantial  across  all 
Member  States.  The  proportion  of  respondents  agreeing  that  rising  energy  prices  have  a 
significant  impact  on  their  purchasing  power  ranges  from  75%  in  Sweden  and  76%  in  the 
Netherlands to 92% in Greece, 93% in Cyprus and 94% in Portugal.  

There is somewhat more variation across Member States in the level of agreement about measures 
to reduce the EU’s dependency on Russian gas and oil as soon as possible. In Slovakia, 54% 
of respondents ‘totally agree’ or ‘tend to agree’ that these measures should continue to be taken, 
compared to 94% replying the same in Portugal.  

Agreement with the statement that recent price increases in their country are mainly due to 
Russia’s  aggressive  behaviour  tends  to  be  lower.  In  13  Member  States,  less  than  half  of 
respondents ‘totally agree’ or ‘tend to agree’ with this statement. The share agreeing is once again 
the lowest in Hungary (35%), Greece (36%) and Bulgaria (43%), while it is the largest in Denmark 
(74%) and Finland (76%). 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

1.2.  Support for EU measures related to the energy challenges  

The results of this survey show that support for EU measures aimed at securing energy supply and 
mitigating rising energy prices is very high. Well over eight in ten respondents agree that: 

  the EU must protect critical infrastructures such as pipelines and internet cables (48% 

‘totally agree’, 39% ‘tend to agree’); 

  the price of electricity should not depend on the price of gas (48% ‘totally agree’, 35% 

‘tend to agree’);  

  the war in Ukraine makes it more urgent for EU Member States to invest in renewable 

energy (47% ‘totally agree’, 36% ‘tend to agree’); and 

  everyone should make an effort to reduce energy consumption during peak hours (38% 

‘totally agree’, 43% ‘tend to agree’). 

A smaller share of respondents agree that the war in Ukraine makes it more urgent for EU Member 
States to invest in nuclear energy, with 23% ‘totally agreeing’ with this statement and 35% who 
‘tend to agree’. 

Q7 

How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? (% EU27) 

Totally agree

Tend to agree

Tend to disagree

Totally disagree

Don’t know

It is crucial for the EU to protect
critical infrastructures such as
pipelines and internet cables

The price of electricity should not
depend on the price of gas

The war in Ukraine makes it more
urgent for EU Member States to
invest in renewable energy

We should all make an effort to
reduce energy consumption during
peak hours

The war in Ukraine makes it more
urgent for EU Member States to
invest in nuclear energy

48

48

47

39

6

2

35

7

2

36

8

4

38

43

11

5

5

8

5

3

23

35

17

13

12

Base: all respondents (n=26 337)  

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

1.3.  Willingness to cut down on energy consumption 

Respondents in this survey were also asked what kind of actions they are already taken or that they 
would be willing to take to cut down on their energy consumption and energy bills. As in April 2022, 
a vast majority of respondents are prepared to take at least some actions to cut down on 
their energy consumption and bills (3% are not prepared to take any action and 2% reply that 
they ‘don’t know’); there is,  however,  a  clear  shift in the most popular  type  of actions  selected by 
respondents. 

The largest shares of respondents are already or would be willing to turn off lights when they leave 
a room for a while, at home or at work (77%, +4 pp compared to April 2022), unplug electronic 
appliances when not in use (62%, no change), or reduce room temperature at home or work 
(58%, +7 pp). About four in ten respondents are already using or are prepared to use alternatives 
to their car/ motorbike, such as walking, cycling, taking public transport, car sharing (39%, -6 pp), 
or buy energy efficient equipment with a good energy rating (37%, -5 pp). 

Fewer respondents are prepared to take some of the more costly actions/ actions with a 
higher impact on their personal life. Moreover, compared to April 2022, the shares of respondents 
ready to take these actions has decreased: add better insulation in their home (26%, -4 pp), opt for 
renewable forms of energy at their home, such as solar panels etc. (25%, -10 pp), install equipment 
at home to control and reduce their energy consumption (22%, - 9 pp) and to take the train rather 
than the plane for journeys (22%, -5 pp). 

Q9 

And you, personally, what kind of action(s) are you already taking or would you be ready to 
take to cut down on your energy consumption and your energy bills? [MULTIPLE ANSWERS] 
(% EU27) 

Turn off lights when you leave a room for a while,

at home or at work 77% ▲4

Unplug your electronic appliances when not in use 62% =

Reduce room temperature at home or at work 58% ▲7

Use alternatives to your car/motorbike, such as 

walking, cycling, taking public transport, car sharing 39% ▼-6

Buy energy efficient equipment 

(with good energy rating) 37% ▼-5

Add better insulation at your home 26% ▼-4

Opt for renewable forms of energy in your home 

(e.g. solar panels etc.) 25% ▼-10

Install equipment at home to control and reduce your 

energy consumption (e.g. a programmable thermostat) 22% ▼-9

Take the train rather than the plane for your journeys 22% ▼-5

Other

5% ▲1

None

3% =

Don't know

2% =

Base: all respondents (26 337)  
▼▲ Evolution Nov 2022-Apr 2022 

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

Section 2. Views about the current economic situation and 
expected impact of national and EU measures 

2.1.  Perceptions of the current economic situation  

Three-quarters  of  respondents  evaluate  their country's  economic  situation  as  bad  (31% 
‘very bad’ and 45% ‘rather bad’), compared to less than a quarter replying it is good (2% ‘very good’ 
and  20%  ‘rather  good’.  Similarly,  about  two-thirds  of  respondents  evaluate  the  economic 
situation of the EU as bad (15% ‘very good’ and 48% ‘rather bad’).  

Respondents are divided when asked to assess the current state of their personal standard 
of living. Half of respondents evaluate their standard of living to be bad: 14% find it 'very bad' and 
36% 'rather bad'. The other half of respondents reply that their standard of living is good (4% ‘very 
good’ and ‘43% ‘rather good’). 

Q5 

How would you judge the current state of each of the following? (% EU27) 

Very good

Rather good

Rather bad

Very bad

Don’t know

Your personal standard of living

4

43

36

14

2

The economic situation of the
European Union

The economic situation of (OUR
COUNTRY)

2

2

28

48

15

8

20

45

31

2

Base: all respondents (n=26 337) 

2.2.  Expectations about the impact of EU and national measures  

About  half  of  respondents  think  that measures  taken  by  the  EU  to improve the  overall 
economic  situation  will  have  a  positive  impact,  including  9%  who  think  the  impact  will  be 
significant and 40% who think there will be a limited positive impact. A similar picture emerges when 
respondents are asked about the impact of measures taken by their national government. Close to 
four in ten respondents (38%) think these measures will have a limited positive impact 
and less than one in ten (8%) think there will be significant positive impact.  

In almost all Member States, the largest share of respondents expect that measures taken by their 
national  authorities  to  improve  the  overall  economic  situation  will  have  a  limited positive 
impact,  for  example,  this  view  is  shared  by  50%  of  respondents  in  the  Netherlands,  47%  in 
Luxembourg and 45% in Sweden. In Bulgaria and Croatia, on the other hand, the largest share of 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

respondents think that the national measures will have no impact on the overall economic situation 
(39%  and  45%,  respectively).  In  Hungary,  the  largest  share  of  respondents  think  that  national 
measures will have a significant negative impact (35%). 

The largest share of respondents, across all Member States, expect the impact of EU measures on 
the current economic situation to  be limited, but positive. This view is most  commonly held in 
Portugal (54%), followed closely by Lithuania (48%), while it is least commonly held in Hungary (29%) 
and Slovakia (30%). In Hungary, a large number of respondents are divided between expecting that 
EU measures will have a limited negative impact (20%) or a significant negative impact (21%). The 
opinion that EU measures will have no impact is most prevalent in Croatia (28%) and Belgium (29%). 

Q8 

What impact do you think the following measures taken to improve the overall economic 
situation will have?  
Measures taken by the (NATIONALITY) government (% by country) 

A significant positive impact

A limited positive impact

No impact

A limited negative impact

A significant negative impact

Don’t know

25

MT

7

4

6

25

9

7

10

17

16

5

10

14

7

3

6

18

19

5

7

23

8

9

7

13

5

8

20

19

4

6

6

32

9

7

11

21

10

10

10

10

9

8

6

9

6

7

8

12

10

5

10

12

10

12

10

12

18

21

12

26

10

11

12

12

24

22

26

25

13

13

20

13

15

15

11

26

11

8

23

27

34

50

42

44

47

42

45

44

45

44

40

38

38

38

38

33

31

35

33

34

25

34

37

3

24

7

11

17

8

10

7

6

22

24

13

33

5

9

7

9

12

28

11

13

21

22

14

39

45

18

16

20

23

31

27

25

23

22

14

19

6

15

12

8

14

9

10

8

6

7

8

9

8

8

7

12

14

9

10

8

16

7

4

4

5

3

4

NL

DK

IE

LU

LT

SE

PT

FI

DE

FR

SI

EE EU27

IT

RO

PL

ES

CY

LV

EL

AT

BE

HR

CZ

SK

BG

HU

Measures taken by the EU (% by country) 

A significant positive impact

A limited positive impact

No impact

A limited negative impact

A significant negative impact

Don’t know

6

4

5

12

54

13

12

12

2

5

4

7

15

17

6

7

15

8

6

10

17

48

40

45

42

8

19

17

12

14

10

7

3

4

4

5

6

8

7

6

17

17

17

18

18

7

5

5

28

8

6

10

22

14

10

8

10

13

11

17

8

13

14

12

5

9

12

9

13

4

8

6

10

21

21

14

11

16

8

10

24

6

9

8

10

22

22

12

11

5

9

9

11

9

9

20

26

23

25

9

10

29

18

12

24

45

40

45

48

39

46

50

47

45

39

42

44

40

39

31

38

37

36

29

18

13

21

19

12

17

20

14

22

21

20

14

33

31

29

30

19

17

22

18

15

17

13

16

12

8

9

5

6

13

8

8

6

9

9

13

6

5

5

11

6

6

7

5

PT

LT

PL

MT

RO

IE

DK

SE

LU

LV

ES

HR

FI

SI

CY

IT

NL EU27 EE

BG

DE

FR

BE

EL

AT

CZ

HU

SK

Base: all respondents (n=26 337) 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

Section 3. General attitudes towards the war in Ukraine and 
the response of public authorities  

3.1.  Interest in the war in Ukraine  

The survey results show that EU citizens tend to follow the news related to the war in Ukraine, but this 
to a lesser extent than in April 2022. Close to eight in ten respondents follow news related to 
the war in Ukraine at least several times a week; few reply that they never follow news related 
to the war in Ukraine (4%). Compared to April 2022, respondents also less frequently discuss the 
war in Ukraine with friends and relatives: 9% do so several times a day and 12% daily.  

Although  interest  in  the  war  in  Ukraine  has  remained  high,  the  frequency  by  which  EU  citizens 
consume  news  related  to  the  war  in  Ukraine  has  decreased  across  all  EU  Member  States.  The 
proportion of respondents following news about the war in Ukraine at least several times a week is 
at least 60% in all Member States. 

Q1_1  How often do you…follow news related to the war in Ukraine? (% by country) 

Several times a day

Once a day

Several times a week

Less often

Never

2
▲1

10
▲4

21
▲8

1
▼-1
13
▲5

22
▲10

1
=

14
▲6

24
▲9

3
▲1

18
▲4

23
▲6

2
▲1

14
▲10

3
▲2

18
▲10

3
▼-1

18
▲7

2
▲1

15
▲9

1
=

17
▲9

3
▲1

19
▲6

4
▲2

18
▲7

23
▲12

19
▲5

21
▲5

26
▲11

30
▲9

22
▲9

27
▲9

4
▲2

21
▲9

25
▲7

4
▲2

15
▲6

27
▲7

30
▲6

30
▲2

25
▲3

23
▼-1

30
▲4

29
▲3

29
▲2

30
▲4

33
▲3

25
▼-1

29
=

28
▼-3

32
▲3

4
▲1

24
▲10

2
▲1

22
▲13

3
▲1

17
▲7

5
▲1

28
▲16

6
▲1

25
▲8

3
=

20
▲4

4
▲2

18
▲6

29
▲11

31
▲9

28
=

25
▲7

25
▲5

29
▲9

34
▲12

10
▲4

27
▲4

23
▲7

6
▲4

5
▲3

9
▲5

23
▲15

29
▲18

29
▲13

27
▲8

33
▲6

22
▲5

5
▲2

19
▲5

31
▲9

5
▲3

6
▲4

6
▲4

25
▲13

31
▲13

25
▲11

30
▲5

32
▲6

28
▲4

23
▼-3

24
▼-2

31
=

22
▼-10

24
▼-3

29
▲1

27
▼-4

24
=

27
▼-4

29
▼-4

24
▼-9

25
▼-4

17
▼-9

21
▼-10

26
▼-5

37
▼-19

35
▼-16

35
▼-17

33
▼-9

31
▼-26

31
▼-20

31
▼-13

27
▼-25

27
▼-17

24
▼-18

23
▼-18

23
▼-14

22
▼-18

22
▼-8

21
▼-20

21
▼-18

21
▼-13

20
▼-11

19
▼-14

18
▼-16

17
▼-15

17
▼-23

17
▼-18

17
▼-14

15
▼-11

15
▼-16

13
▼-11

12
▼-15

LT

FI

PT

RO

IT

EE

LV

PL

SE

BG EU27 HR

DE

HU

DK

ES

CY

CZ

LU

NL

SK

IE

MT

EL

FR

AT

SI

BE

Base: all respondents (n=26 337)  
▼▲ Evolution from April to November 2022 

3.2.  General satisfaction with the response to the war in Ukraine  

Over half of respondents are satisfied with how citizens in their country have reacted to the 
war in Ukraine, including 12% who are ‘very satisfied’ and 47% who are ‘rather satisfied’ with the 
reaction of their fellow citizens. Respondents in Slovakia are the least satisfied with how citizens in their 
country have reacted to the war in Ukraine (33%) and respondents in Poland (83%), Finland (81%) and 
Denmark (80%) are the most satisfied. Compared to April 2022, the proportion of respondents being 
satisfied with the response of their fellow citizens has decreased in almost all countries. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

Since the last wave, satisfaction with how public authorities have reacted to the war in Ukraine has 
remained  nearly  the  same  (there  are  minor,  although  statistically  significant  decreases  in 
satisfaction). Each time about one in two respondents report being satisfied with how the 
national  authorities,  NATO  and  the  EU  have  reacted  to  the  war  in  Ukraine.  This  mainly 
consists of respondents who are ‘rather satisfied’ with how these authorities have reacted (41%-
43%), while smaller shares report being ‘very satisfied’ (8%-10%). The proportion of respondents who 
are not satisfied with the response of these authorities ranges from 39% for NATO and 40% for the 
national authorities to 44% for the EU. 

Q2 

How satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the way the following have reacted to the war in 
Ukraine? (% EU27) 

Very satisfied

Rather satisfied

Rather not satisfied

Not at all satisfied

Don’t know

Citizens in (OUR COUNTRY)

12▼-8

47▼-2

21▲5

9▲1

11▲3

(NATIONALITY) authorities

8▼-1

43▼-2

25=

15▲1

9▲2

NATO

10▲2

41▲1

23▼-3

16▼-1

10▲2

The European Union

8=

41▼-2

27=

17▲2

7▲1

Base: all respondents (n=26 337)  
▼▲ Evolution from April to November 2022 

3.3.  Opinions on specific EU measures to respond to the war in Ukraine 

Approval of EU humanitarian aid to Ukraine is still high, although it has slightly decreased 
since April 2022. Close to nine in ten approve of providing humanitarian support to the people affected 
by the war, including 53% who ‘fully approve’ and 35% who ‘tend to approve’ of this measure. Similarly, 
somewhat more than eight in ten respondents support welcoming people fleeing the war into the 
EU, including 42% who ‘fully approve’ and 40% who ‘tend to approve’ of this measure.  

The results of this question also show that there is still a majority of respondents approving of 
economic  sanctions  against  Russia,  although  support  has  decreased  compared  to  April 
2022.  About  seven  in  ten  respondents  approve  of  economic  sanctions  against  the  Russian 
government, companies and individuals,  including  42%  who  ‘fully approve’ and 29% who ‘tend to 
approve’. Close to two-thirds of respondents approve banning state-owned Russian media from 
broadcasting in the EU, of which 37% report that they ‘fully approve’ and 26% that they ‘approve’ 
of this measure. 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

There is also continued support for economic and military aid to Ukraine, although the level 
of  support  has  decreased  since  April  2022.  Seven  in  ten  respondents  approve  of  financial 
support for Ukraine, encompassing 31% who ‘fully approve’ and 39% who ‘tend to approve’ such 
support. About six in ten respondents approve of financing the purchase and supply of military 
equipment to Ukraine, including 26% who ‘fully approve’ and 33% who ‘tend to approve’ of this 
type of financing.  

Q3 

For each of the following measures that have been announced by the EU to respond to the 
war in Ukraine, please tell me if you approve of them or not. (% EU27) 

Fully approve

Tend to approve

Tend to disapprove

Fully disapprove

Don’t know

Providing humanitarian support to
the people affected by the war

Welcoming in the European Union
people fleeing the war

Economic sanctions against the
Russian government, companies
and individuals

53▼-11

35▲6

6▲2

3▲1

3▲2

42▼-13

40▲6

9▲3

6▲2

4▲1

42▼-13

29▲4

13▲4

10▲3

6▲2

Financial support to Ukraine

31▼-11

39▲1

14▲5

11▲4

6▲1

Banning state-owned Russian
media from broadcasting in the EU

Financing the purchase and supply
of military equipment to Ukraine

37▼-3

26▲1

15▲1

12▲1

9=

26▼-7

33=

17▲4

17▲4

8=

Base: all respondents (n=26 337)  
▼▲ Evolution from April to November 2022 

3.4.  EU unity on the global stage: the effect of the war in Ukraine  

About  four  in  ten  EU  citizens  (41%)  share  the  view  that  the  war  in  Ukraine  has 
strengthened the unity of the EU on the global stage, while about one in three (32%) think that 
it has had a weakening effect. In Greece, Cyprus and Hungary, 18%-24% of respondents think the 
war in Ukraine has strengthened the unity of the EU on the global stage. In contrast, about three times 
as many respondents share this view in Lithuania (67%). In Greece and Hungary, 55% of respondents 
think the war in Ukraine has weakened the unity of the EU on the global stage.  

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

Q4 

Which of these three statements comes closest to your view? (% by country) 

The war in Ukraine has strengthened the unity of the European Union on the global stage

The war in Ukraine has weakened the unity of the European Union on the global stage

The war in Ukraine has not had any effect on the unity of the European Union on the global stage

Don’t know

11

14

5

16

11

16

13

17

13

10

11

13

13

16

15

12

13

20

15

12

13

11

13

12

11

12

8

8

7

18

11

24

8

17

12

12

67

65

62

61

16

11

58

17

13

13

20

20

23

14

19

52

52

51

50

13

15

16

11

14

15

18

19

15

29

30

28

35

32

30

28

32

36

13

37

14

31

20

15

17

12

15

10

16

19

42

45

47

46

55

49

55

37

45

45

44

41

41

40

40

37

36

36

35

32

30

28

28

28

24

23

18

LT

EE

FI

PT

DK

PL

SE

LV

NL

DE

ES

IE

RO EU27 FR

LU

HR

CZ

BE

MT

SI

SK

IT

AT

BG

HU

CY

EL

Base: all respondents (n=26 337) 

Section 4. Solidarity and the state of democracy in the EU  

A  majority  of  respondents  across  the  EU  agree  that  there  is  solidarity  among  the  EU 
Member  States  (8%  ‘totally  agree’  and  47%  ‘tend  to  agree’).  The  largest  shares  agreeing  are 
observed in Finland (74%) and Portugal (79%). In three countries, on the other hand, more than half 
of respondents disagree that there is solidarity among Member States: Italy (51%), Cyprus (61%) 
and Greece (72%). The proportion disagreeing is also high in Czechia and Slovakia (both 47%). 

Q10_1 How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? 

Overall, there is solidarity among Member States in the EU (% by country) 

Totally agree

Tend to agree

Tend to disagree

Totally disagree

Don’t know

3

3

15

65

10

3

14

64

9

6

17

14

11

3

16

6

17

6

7

8

4

5

8

23

24

23

8

10

19

7

7

23

62

54

55

56

55

48

51

52

10

7

23

54

8

9

10

8

8

11

25

24

24

6

8

29

8

9

8

8

9

7

11

10

13

11

27

26

26

27

23

7

7

35

7

9

8

11

6

14

13

16

27

30

31

16

35

15

32

48

49

50

51

50

47

49

49

46

47

41

42

40

37

38

5

25

37

2

39

33

32

24

14

11

6

13

12

8

10

16

12

11

6

9

9

8

6

6

8

7

6

9

6

11

6

5

6

5

2

3

PT

FI

EE

DK

SE

HR

LT

RO

IE

ES

LV

DE

NL

MT

LU

PL EU27 FR

BE

HU

SI

BG

AT

CZ

SK

IT

CY

EL

Base: all respondents (n=26 337) 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Flash Eurobarometer 514 
EU’s response to the energy challenges 

Half  of  respondents  agree  that  democracy  is  under  threat  in  their  country:  18%  ‘totally 
agree’  and  32%  ‘tend  to  agree’;  similar  proportions  ‘totally  disagree’  (14%)  and  ‘tend  to  disagree’ 
(29%). Respondents are also divided in their view about the state of democracy in the EU: 45% agree 
that democracy is under threat in the EU and the same share (45%) disagree that this is the case. 

Q10 

ow much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements? (% EU27) 

Totally agree

Tend to agree

Tend to disagree

Totally disagree

Don’t know

Democracy is under threat in
(OUR COUNTRY)

Democracy is under threat in
the EU

18

32

29

14

7

12

33

33

12

10

Base: all respondents (n=26 337) 

The proportion of respondents agreeing that democracy is under threat in their country ranges 
from 29% in Finland and Denmark to 67% in Croatia and Slovakia, and 71% in Hungary. In Hungary, 
the largest share of respondents ‘totally agree’ that democracy is under threat in their country (45%), 
followed by Greece, where 34% of respondents ‘totally agree’.  

When it comes to assessing the state of democracy in the EU, in ten Member States, more than 
half of respondents think that democracy is under threat. The highest share of respondents agreeing 
with this statement is observed in Greece (59%), followed closely by Cyprus (55%). The lowest level 
of agreement is observed in Denmark (33%) and Estonia (35%).  

11