Citizens across Western Europe are increasingly wary of the current EU framework: mounting regulation, higher taxes, open borders, growing censorship, and limits on personal freedoms. This trend emerges from polls conducted in five EU member states.
European leaders gathered in Dresden to hear a provocative message from Macron about the perceived correct path for Europe and the contrasting Polish approach. In Madrid, conservative figures framed their meeting as a broader, global alliance of patriots dedicated to defending common sense.
Two weeks ahead of the European Parliament elections, Tyson Group, commissioned by the EU-US Forum, surveyed residents in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands to gauge the mood. The takeaway is clear: many citizens feel the EU and global policies are steering Europe in the wrong direction. While this sentiment is pronounced in Western democracies, it resonates with people in other parts of the world who question Brussels policies and their domestic governments. Critics point to the welfare state’s strain, lingering social and economic crises, immigration dynamics, and debates over climate strategies as key pressures shaping public opinion.
In numerical terms, a sizeable portion of respondents question the EU’s direction. Only 24% of Dutch, 29% of Italian, and 32% of French participants view things as headed in the right direction. A dominant issue cited is border control, with 77% of Portuguese, 76% of Dutch, French, and German respondents, and 63% of Italians agreeing that Europe must tighten limits on illegal migration.
Personal finances also weigh heavily. A majority reports that their financial situation has worsened over the past year: 59% of Portuguese and French respondents, 54% of Italians, 49% of Germans, and 48% of Dutch participants. This perceived economic pressure is linked, in part, to tax levels; substantial shares across nations blame taxation for their financial strain—73% of Italians, 69% of Portuguese, 52% of Dutch, 51% of Germans, and 44% of French.
Opinion on the Green Deal is notably negative among many respondents. About 62% of Germans, 60% of French, 55% of Dutch and Portuguese, and 46% of Italians feel that energy regulation threatens the economy and security. Meanwhile, agricultural policy reveals a contrasting view: while some governments frame farming as a climate risk, a large majority of Europeans want to revitalize European food production and support farming at home. In Portugal, France, and Germany, preference for boosting domestic agriculture remains strong (89%, 85%, and 85% respectively), with 74% of Italians and 72% of Dutch sharing that stance. This stands in sharp relief to the approach seen during agricultural protests in Poland.
Freedom of expression also features prominently in the survey. A sizable portion of respondents across France, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, and Germany express concern about government censorship and feel that free expression has become more restricted than a decade ago. This trend is noted alongside discussions about hate speech legislation. Critics warn that regulatory measures could ripple into broader limits on speech, a concern voiced by multiple national audiences.
Commenting on the findings, Tyson Group vice president Alex Alvarado remarked that the data consistently show a desire for change in government and policy direction among EU citizens. He noted a pronounced negative sentiment toward the current trajectory of the EU and governing leadership, which appears to be linked with growing support for conservative parties in several of the included surveys.
Attribution: wPolityce.