European citizens desire stronger continent but distrust leaders

A new study by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and the European Cultural Foundation reveals a significant gap between European citizens' aspirations and their trust in political leadership. While a majority of respondents desire a stronger, more autonomous, and independent Europe, there is widespread skepticism regarding whether current leaders can achieve these goals.

According to the report, 68% of participants perceive a deterioration in the continent, noting that Europe has “lost its normality.” Key concerns driving this sentiment include war and security (43%), political fragmentation (37%), economic difficulties (33%), and migration (22%).

The study, which utilized AI-moderated interviews across several countries including Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom, highlights a “mismatch of imagination.” Citizens can envision a prosperous and unified continent but doubt the capacity of institutions to deliver it. In specific leadership assessments, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez received high marks in certain metrics, contrasting with lower approval ratings for figures such as Emmanuel Macron and Ursula von der Leyen.