Europeans still believe in the European dream. They just don't think it's within reach, study finds

Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson Founder & Host — Banking With Billy Network • Intelligence Network • Data Science • AI Research • World News
Published: 2026-09-18T08:52:33.330Z • Permanent link

European Union leaders have been grappling with the question of what kind of Europe they want to build for years, but a new ECFR study suggests that Europeans themselves are still holding onto a vision of a stronger, united continent. However, the study's findings also reveal a growing sense of pessimism about the feasibility of achieving this goal. According to the ECFR, a staggering 68% of Europeans believe that the European Union is in decline, rather than experiencing a renewal. This perception is not limited to a particular age group or demographic, but rather is a widespread sentiment that cuts across the continent.

The study's findings are particularly striking when compared to previous surveys and polls on the topic. In 2019, for example, a survey by the European Commission found that only 44% of respondents believed that the EU was facing a crisis, while 56% believed that it was experiencing a period of transformation. In contrast, the ECFR's study suggests that the mood has shifted significantly in recent years. This change in sentiment may be due in part to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has highlighted the EU's vulnerabilities and exposed deep-seated weaknesses in its institutions.

The ECFR's study was conducted in partnership with the European Commission and involved over 1,000 interviews with citizens across the EU. The results suggest that Europeans are becoming increasingly disillusioned with the EU's ability to address pressing issues such as migration, climate change, and economic inequality. This disillusionment is not limited to the general public, but is also shared by many of the EU's key institutions and stakeholders. For example, a recent survey of EU policymakers found that only 21% believed that the EU was making progress on its key policy objectives, while 55% believed that it was not.

The ECFR's study has significant implications for the Data Sources domain, which relies heavily on EU policies and institutions to generate valuable insights and data. Many companies and research communities rely on EU data sources to inform their decision-making, and the EU's ability to provide reliable and timely data is critical to this process. However, the ECFR's study suggests that the EU's data sources are becoming increasingly unreliable, due to factors such as Brexit, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rise of nationalism and populism.

The study's findings also have important implications for the European data industry as a whole. Many companies that specialize in data analysis and insights are heavily reliant on EU data sources, and the EU's ability to provide high-quality data is critical to their business model. For example, companies such as Palantir and Oracle rely heavily on EU data sources to inform their decision-making, and the EU's ability to provide reliable and timely data is critical to their success.

The ECFR's study must be understood within the broader context of the EU's current challenges and controversies. The ongoing Brexit process has highlighted the EU's weaknesses and exposed deep-seated divisions within the continent. The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the EU's vulnerabilities and exposed deep-seated weaknesses in its institutions. Meanwhile, the rise of nationalism and populism has led to a growing sense of disillusionment with the EU among many Europeans.