Across Europe, 50 percent of respondents believed their country should support Ukraine by supplying weapons to defend against Russian attacks. At the start of the Russian offensive war, that figure was still 56 percent. In Belgium, public approval for arms transfers fell below 48 percent in September, down from 60 percent in March. The percentage is lowest in Italy at 36 percent. By contrast, in Poland, Ukraine’s immediate neighbour, approval for such activities has remained consistently high (76 percent).
Across the EU, a clear majority (67 percent) said the EU should become more energy independent, even if this means higher costs. In March, this figure was still 74 percent. The sharpest decrease was recorded in Belgium in recent months (from 76 percent in March to 64 percent in September). Given the continuing sky-high inflation and the start of the heating season, this is an expected development, it sounds.
When asked what worries them most at the moment, respondents in the EU made it clear how much inflation is holding them back. Overall, 49 percent cited rising longevity as their top concern, with this figure rising to 50 percent in Belgium.
There is still a clear majority in favor of admitting Ukraine to the European Union. Slightly less than two-thirds of the respondents indicated that they were in favour, six percent less than in March. More than three-quarters of the respondents are willing to receive Ukrainian refugees in their own country, in Belgium that percentage has fallen to 73 percent.