86% of Estonian residents support Estonia’s membership of the European Union, which is 8% more than in 2021. It is also the highest support has been since 2000. 6% do not support Estonia’s membership of the European Union. 89% support the use of the single currency, the euro, which is the highest support of all time.
The opportunity to live and work in other Member States is seen as the most important reason to belong to the EU. The respondents also believe that membership of the European Union increases Estonia’s security and that the European Union helps to promote peace, protect values and increase prosperity. The respondents also pointed out that the European Union ensures stable economic growth and increases Estonia’s competitiveness. Compared to 2021, promoting peace and increasing Estonia’s security is seen as a much more important reason for supporting EU membership.
In the opinion of Estonian residents, the European Union is also most associated with the values of peace and human rights, including human life, individual freedoms, democracy, the rule of law and solidarity. The fundamental principles of the European Union, such as freedom of movement, joint crisis management, protection of the environment and tackling climate change, are seen as important. Compared to 2021, support for the principle that all countries are solidary under migratory pressure has increased the most.
The survey revealed that in the opinion of Estonian citizens, the EU budget should be used to support agriculture, rural development, security and safety, education and science, and tackling the energy crisis caused by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. 12% of Estonians consider it important to support the fight against climate change from the budget.
Three quarters of Estonian residents are concerned about the consequences of climate change and 62% think Estonia needs to do more to fight climate change. 6% of the respondents consider the European Union’s contribution to combating climate change and the support for and regulations of environmental protection to be the most important reasons for Estonia’s membership of the European Union. 72% of Estonian residents associate the European Union with leadership in combating climate change and environmental protection.
Almost half of Estonian residents said they were aware of Estonia’s goals and interests in the European Union, which is 10% more than a year ago. Two thirds rate Estonia’s activities in the European Union as successful, which is 8% more than a year ago. The respondents predominantly agreed that Estonia’s membership of the European Union has brought good things for Estonia, increased prosperity and helped to cope with the crisis.
The survey was carried out in October and November 2022 by Turu-uuringute AS by telephone and online. In total, the sample included 1002 Estonian residents aged 15 and over.
The results of the survey are available on the web of the Government Office
