Which values best represent the EU according to its citizens

Eurobarometer reveals which values best represent the EU according to its citizens 

Eurobarometer reveals which values best represent the EU according to its citizens  

When asked which values best represent the EU, around four in ten EU citizens chose ‘peace’ (39%). Meanwhile, around a third chose ‘democracy’ (35%) and three out of ten ‘human rights’ (30%). The mention of these three values slightly increased in comparison to the previous Standard Eurobarometer survey from Autumn 2023 (ST100), with 'peace’ gaining 2 percentage points (pp) and 'democracy’ and ‘human rights’ both increasing by 1 pp. ‘The rule of law’ (23%) and ‘solidarity, support for others’ (22%) follow, both mentioned by more than one fifth of the respondents, even though the latter slightly decreased from the previous survey (-2 pp). 

Results by country 

On a national scale, ‘peace’ is regarded as the value that best represents the EU in 15 Member States. 'Peace’ is mentioned by an absolute majority of respondents in Germany and Slovenia (both 51%), and by almost half of the respondents in the Netherlands (49%) and Greece (48%). It is also notable that ‘peace’ is cited by half of the respondents in Sweden (50%), even though it is not the most chosen value (‘democracy’ is higher with 54% of respondents citing it). Mentions of ‘peace’ have increased in 17 countries, most significantly in Italy (36%, +7 pp), Slovenia (51%, +5 pp), Sweden (50%, +5 pp), Belgium (40%, +5 pp) and Poland (34%, +5 pp). However, it has decreased even more importantly in Luxembourg (39%, -10 pp) and in Czechia (34%, -8 pp). 

‘Democracy’ is the top value in nine different countries, cited by an absolute majority of respondents in Sweden (54%), Denmark (51%) as well as by almost half of the respondents in Finland (48%). Important increases are observed in Croatia (35%, +12 pp), in Latvia (32%, +10 pp) and in Ireland (36%, +9 pp). 

‘Human rights’ is regarded as best representing the EU in Luxembourg (40%, same as ‘peace’), Latvia (37%), Spain (33%) and Hungary (30%, same as ‘democracy’). The most important increases can be observed in Greece (35%, +7 pp), in Denmark (43%, +5 pp), in Luxembourg (39%, +5 pp) and in Czechia (28%, +5 pp), while significant decreases are recorded in Sweden (34%, -7 pp), in Romania (19%, -7 pp) and in Malta (34%, -6 pp). 

Finally, ‘solidarity, support for others’ is cited as the value that best represents the EU in Portugal (38%). However, overall, there has been a decrease at the EU level (22%, -2 pp) since the last Eurobarometer. This is due to a decrease in 21 countries, with the most striking changes observed in Czechia (21%, -9 pp) and in Austria (24%, -7 pp). 

Sociodemographic observations 

Sociodemographic statistics reveal notable differences depending on respondents’ age and subjective belonging of social class. 

Respondents who are 55 or older are more likely to consider that ‘peace’ best represents the EU (41%) than respondents being between the ages of 15 and 24 (34%). However, these younger respondents are more likely to regard ‘human rights’ (32%) and ‘solidarity, support for others’ (25%) as the values that best represent it, in comparison with the elders (respectively 29% and 20% for respondents 55 or older). 

Respondents who consider themselves as belonging to the upper class are also more likely to consider ‘peace’ (46%), ‘democracy’ (43%) and ‘human rights’ (35%) as values that best represent the EU than respondents who consider themselves as belonging to the working class (respectively 39%, 30% and 27%). However, respondents who subjectively identify as working class are more likely to consider ‘solidarity, support for others’ (22%) as the value that best represents the EU compared with respondents who see themselves as belonging to the upper class (17%).