Plenary Insights – January 2025 

Each plenary session, DG COMM assembles public opinion data on key agenda topics:

• Programme of the Polish Presidency: EU citizens believe that security and defence (33%) should be the first priority area in which the EU takes measures in the years to come. This is followed by migration, economy and climate/environment. The statement that more money should be spent on defence in the EU is supported by 64% of EU citizens, and that the European defence industry should be strengthened by 69%. These are majority views in all Member States except Slovenia. (EC Standard Eurobarometer - Autumn 2024)
• Transatlantic relations under the new Trump administration: EU citizens are split regarding their views about the USA: 47% have a positive view and 47% a negative one. Overall, EU citizens have a positive view of the EU’s influence in the world. Almost seven in ten (69%) agree that the EU has sufficient power and tools to defend the economic interests of Europe in the global economy. (EC Standard Eurobarometer - Autumn 2024)
• Need to enforce the Digital Services Act: While TV remains Europeans’ preferred way of accessing news, social media are gaining ground with an 11 pp increase between April/May 2022 and October 2023. Social media platforms are the biggest source of news for youth. (Media and news 2023 Eurobarometer survey) Almost eight in ten (78%) EU citizens are concerned about disinformation influencing people’s voting decisions. (Eurobarometer survey on citizenship and democracy) When asked about the most important elements of free and fair electoral campaigns, the largest share of EU citizens select ‘debates and campaigns avoiding hate speech, manipulation and lies’ (46%). (Eurobarometer survey on democracy) 34% consider false and/or misleading information in general circulating online and offline to be one of the most serious threats to democracy. (Eurobarometer survey on EU challenges and priorities)
• December European Council conclusions: The general perception of the EU’s ability to respond to crisis is rather positive. 69% of EU citizens think that the EU’s response in providing relief for natural disasters (e.g. floods, wildfires, earthquakes) is very effective or rather effective. 61% think so about the EU's response to health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic or epidemics. Respondents are divided when asked to rate the effectiveness of the EU’s response in dealing with the impact on the EU of violent conflicts (47% effective vs 47% ineffective). (Eurobarometer on perceptions of EU crisis management)