Today is a big day for me. Since the beginning of April, we at @ECFRBerlin have been working on a new project. Re:shape Global Europe seeks to develop new strategies for Europeans to understand and engage with the changing international order. Today we launch first results. A🧵
In a data-based study, we wanted to find out how Europeans see themselves and their role in the world. We did an opinion poll in 12 EU countries which, collectively, comprise more than 350 million European citizens and account for more than 80 per cent of the EU’s GDP.
Together with the fantastic @sd270 I wrote a policy brief about our findings and the European crisis of confidence as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic: ecfr.eu/publication/cr…
We found an altogether gloomy picture. 15 months into the #COVID19 pandemic, Europeans’ trust in the #EU has collapsed – even among mainstream voters in France, Germany and Italy. In Germany 33% now think EU integration has gone too far. 
But there is still hope! European majorities in nearly all countries still believe in the value of cooperating at the EU level. They distinguish between current institutions and belief in the project. And they still see it as a good thing to be member of the EU.
Our main lesson for EU leaders ahead of the G7, and the NATO and EU-US summits? Take the EU's role on the world stage seriously. Out of all the options over what should change in Europe – ensuring a more unified response to global threats & challenges came out TOP
Many Europeans want to see the EU as a beacon of democracy and human rights, prioritising the rule of law and high democratic standards within its own ranks – and towards China and Turkey
EU citizens see the US and the UK as their most important partners. But they are aware that, in an era of great power competition, they must ultimately rely more on themselves. They see the world as being made up of strategic partnerships, with no automatic alliances.
Main take-away: The 🇪🇺 project still enjoys strong support among the populations. But our survey shows that the permissive consensus for EU integration can no longer be taken for granted. It is a wake-up call to channel the remaining support for the EU in the right direction.
Much more is in our report. Huge thanks go to @MercatorDE and to my great colleagues at @ecfr for supporting our work in the best possible way.
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