The study, carried out for the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation in early 2024 through 1,107 interviews with residents of mainland Portugal aged 18 or over, was released to mark Europe Day.

The percentage of respondents who say that Portugal has benefited from joining the community space has reached a “historic maximum”, with answers above 90% to a question that has been asked in Eurobarometers since 1986, while support for the euro, questioned since 2009, is affirmed by more than 70%.

Regarding the image of European institutions, the downward trajectory of evaluation between 2000 and the years of the economic crisis was recalled, with there now being a positive image (52.3%) of the European Parliament (EP), European Commission (EC), and European Central Bank.

Portugal (with an average of 56.3% between 2000 and 2023) also shows confidence in institutions above the European average (50.7%), which reflects, according to the study, the country's position among the most pro-European states.

Trust

“Trust in European political institutions is far greater than trust in national institutions, such as Parliament or the Government”, reads the study, which shows that around one in three respondents say they trust at the national level compared to around two in three who express confidence in the EP and the EC.

Women and respondents aged 55 or over and those with higher education tend to better evaluate the image of European institutions and trust them more.

However, regarding the action of institutions in the face of challenges, the response is more negative, with greater dissatisfaction demonstrated in relation to the reduction of poverty and inequalities, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, “issues in relation to which less than a third say they are satisfied ” with the community response.

The greatest dissatisfaction is recorded among younger people, respondents with less education, and those who are ideologically on the right.

Respondents defended greater European decision-making regarding the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, immigration from third countries, climate change, and the Ukrainian War, with the preference for national decisions being themes such as poverty and inequalities.

More accessions to the 27 are supported by 44.5% of respondents and opposed by 38.8%, with Ukraine (58%) collecting the largest number of preferences.

When asked about the influence on EU decisions in terms of countries, 74.5% point to Germany, followed by France (13.3%) and Belgium (2.3%).