A majority of European Union residents believe the EU should take a more active role in protecting citizens from global crises and security risks, a new survey has found.
In Germany, 73% of respondents expressed support for this idea, above the EU average of 66%, according to the Eurobarometer survey published on Tuesday, which interviewed over 26,000 people across the bloc.
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called the findings a clear call to action, saying that the EU must become stronger to ensure its citizens feel safer.
The Eurobarometer, commissioned by the European Parliament, regularly surveys EU citizens to gauge their expectations for the bloc.
A total of 26,350 EU citizens aged 15 and over were interviewed between January 9 and February 4.
The survey found that 43% of German respondents consider defence and security to be the most crucial areas for the EU to focus on in order to strengthen its global position.
In contrast, Italians prioritize competitiveness, the economy and industry, while for Spaniards education and research are most important.
On average, EU citizens rated culture as the least important issue.
When asked whether they believe EU membership benefits them, 76% of Germans agreed, slightly higher than the EU average of 74%.
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