Future of Europe: Positive views from outside the EU

For the first time, the Eurobarometer survey assessed the image of the European Union in eleven non-EU countries, which represent 49% of the world population and 61% of global GDP. In 7 out of 11, the majority of citizens have a positive view about the EU.

A new “Flash” Eurobarometer on the future of Europe was published this month, along with the latest “Standard” spring edition. It assessed the image of the European Union in eleven third countries. Respondents in most of the countries covered by the survey have a positive view of the EU: 94% in Brazil, 84% in China, 83% in India, 76% in Japan, 79% in Canada, 75% in the USA, 67% in Australia and 54% in Turkey. At the same time respondents in countries closer to the EU (Russia, Norway and Switzerland) tend to have mixed feelings (between 43% and 46% have a positive view of the EU). In the chart below, percentages of different answers for every countries are displayed.

The survey also shows that the EU is globally perceived as “a place of stability in a troubled world” in the countries polled — with important differences, from 82% in India thinking that way to 49% in Turkey — but this is not the case in Russia where only 33% share this view and 61% the opposite.

The economic, industrial and trading power of the EU is the most commonly mentioned as the main asset of the EU by respondents in 8 in 11 countries. Nevertheless, respondents in Turkey and Norway are most likely to say “the EU’s respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law” is its main asset, while those in Russia are most likely to mention “the standard of living of EU citizens” (17%). See the chart and the table below.

If you are curious about how people all over the world see the EU, take a look at the report in the Eurobarometer’s portal.