Trust in the EU: Bulgarians are more optimistic, yet also more pessimistic

Today, in the heart of the European political scene, data was presented from a large-scale _Eurobarometer_ survey, commissioned by the European Parliament. The results reveal a complex, but predominantly positive picture of the attitudes of European citizens, including Bulgarians, towards the future of the Community. According to the survey, almost two-thirds of EU citizens (66 percent) and a significant portion of Bulgarians (59 percent) view the future of the union with optimism. These figures aren't just statistics; they're a reflection of the sense of stability and prosperity that EU institutions are trying to build.

It's telling that half of the surveyed Bulgarians and the same proportion of other Europeans express a positive attitude toward the European Union itself. This support isn't just emotional; it's also pragmatic. A majority of citizens both in Bulgaria (62 percent) and in the rest of the EU (72 percent) acknowledge that Brussels' actions have a direct influence on their daily lives, with half of them viewing this influence as positive.

Benefits of Membership and Differences in Priorities

One of the most important aspects of the survey is the perception of benefit from EU membership. For 58 percent of Bulgarians and an impressive 73 percent of other Europeans, their country benefits from being part of the Community. Here, however, an interesting difference in priorities is observed. For almost half of Bulgarians (47 percent), the main benefit is expressed in additional opportunities for finding work, a response cited by only 25 percent of other participants. For them, the most important benefits are the protection of peace and the improvement of security – an indicator that reflects geopolitical concerns in the region and worldwide.

Domestic Concerns and the Role of the EP

Despite optimism for the EU as a whole, the survey also reveals some concerns regarding the domestic development of the member states. Almost half of Bulgarians (49 percent) believe that the EU is moving in the right direction, which is a higher proportion than the EU average (42 percent). At the same time, however, 50 percent of Bulgarians and 52 percent of other participants believe that their own country isn't going in the right direction. This duality highlights the dichotomy between trust in supranational institutions and skepticism toward national policies.

As for the future, 43 percent of Bulgarian citizens (and 55 percent of those in the rest of the EU) expect their standard of living to remain unchanged over the next five years, while 27 percent of all responses express outright pessimism.

Global Challenges and Budgetary Transparency

The survey also highlights the EU's role in tackling global challenges. A majority of Bulgarians (56 percent) and an even larger proportion of other Europeans (68 percent) believe that the EU's role in protection against global threats will grow. Almost all respondents (81 percent in Bulgaria and 90 percent in the EU) are unanimous that member states must be more united in the face of current common challenges.

There's also a clear call for a stronger financial backbone. 69 percent of Bulgarians and 77 percent of other Europeans support the need for a larger European budget to finance projects. At the same time, a majority (82 percent in Bulgaria and 85 percent in the EU) are adamant that the provision of European funds should be tied to respect for the rule of law. The results also show that most participants (58 percent in Bulgaria and 55 percent in the EU) expect transparency in the distribution of the common budget.

The survey, which was conducted in May among 1,039 Bulgarian citizens, emphasizes that despite some differences, the main expectations for the European Union are rooted in the protection of peace, democracy, and the rule of law. These topics, along with the fight against inflation and poverty, are among the main priorities that citizens want to see on the agenda of the European Parliament's work. This clearly shows that Bulgarians, like their European partners, see the EU not just as an economic union but as a guarantor of the fundamental values upon which the Community is built.