A growing sense of insecurity and concern over global instability is shaping public opinion across Europe, according to the European Parliament’s latest Eurobarometer survey, with one in two EU citizens pessimistic about the future of the world.

The European Parliament’s Autumn 2025 Eurobarometer survey was conducted by the company Verian between November 6 and 30, 2025, across all 27 EU member states.

Across the EU, 52% of respondents express pessimism about global prospects, rising to 56% in Greece. Similar sentiment extends to views about the European Union and national outlooks: 39% of EU citizens are pessimistic about the EU’s future, compared with 53% in Greece, while 41% of Europeans—and 56% of Greeks—take a negative view of their own country’s future.

At the personal level, however, attitudes are brighter. Three in four EU citizens remain optimistic about their own future and that of their families, though optimism in Greece is lower at 69%.

Security concerns dominate public opinion. Across the EU, citizens cite armed conflicts near the bloc’s borders as the leading worry (72%), followed by terrorism (67%), cyberattacks from outside the EU (66%), climate-related natural disasters (66%), and irregular migration flows (65%). In Greece, migration tops the list at 84%, followed by climate-related disasters (83%), nearby wars (79%), terrorism (73%), and Europe’s energy dependence (71%). Disinformation, data protection, hate speech, and AI-generated false content also register high levels of concern.

Amid these pressures, Europeans increasingly expect the EU to play a stronger role. Two-thirds of EU respondents—and nearly eight in ten Greeks—want the Union to do more to safeguard citizens. Over 90% of Greeks and nearly as many Europeans call for greater unity among member states, while large majorities support giving the EU more tools to confront global challenges.

Economic pressures remain central. Inflation and the cost of living top domestic policy priorities for 41% of EU citizens and 53% of Greeks, with jobs and economic growth also ranking highly—especially in Greece. Many expect living standards to remain stable, yet 28% of Europeans and 39% of Greeks foresee deterioration over the next five years.

Despite mounting anxieties, overall views of the EU remain broadly positive, though slightly weaker than earlier in 2025.