Thread by @tara_varma

In the past few days @sd270 and I have been frantically analysing the data we got from @ecfr latest poll on European perceptions of French diplomatic leadership. Unroll 🧵for an insight on our main findings (1/10) bit.ly/3i8Stxz

European citizens want more cooperation on #security and expect the EU to provide it (2/10) #ECFRdata

Europeans are disillusioned with how the global system of international cooperation is handling today’s challenges. 71% believe that the system is not working on #climatechange. (3/10) #ECFRdata

Confidence in national political systems is at a low ebb across Europe, with a majority of Europeans (58%) holding the view that ordinary voters have almost “no impact” on today’s politics. 🇪🇺 But support for EU institutions, however, remains high! (4/10) #ECFRdata

Already in the weeks leading up to #Russia’s #InvasionofUkraine, an @ecfr poll showed a plurality of respondents thought there was a need for European cooperation to guarantee #security at their borders and to tackle future #pandemics (5/10)

Europeans see #France – where voters go to the polls next month (#presidentielle2022) - as a “reliable partner” within the EU. They “trust” France to defend their interests – especially in #SecDef security and defence, and in standing up for democracy and #humanrights. (6/10)

Europeans are comfortable with the idea of #French leadership on such cooperation efforts. #presidentielle2022 (7/10)

Therefore, the next #FrenchPresident should pursue a strong European #foreignpolicy agenda to protect Europeans against the threats they are most concerned about, driving the EU to engage geopolitically with Russian & Chinese efforts to reshape the international order. (8/10)

With @sd270 we believe that there is an opportunity for the next French president to recast #France’s role within the #EU27 – and show the “importance of European power” in an increasingly uncertain and competitive world. #presidentielle2022 (9/10)

We will discuss the findings of our paper: bit.ly/3IQnstP in this event tomorrow afternoon, do register and join us: bit.ly/3hS95Jz (10/10)