A study by the European Council for Foreign Relations (ECFR) shows that Europeans no longer consider the United States as an “ally” and reveals a great diversity of opinions on the future of the EU.
A majority of Europeans consider the United States as a “necessary partner” rather than an “ally”, according to a survey published on Wednesday by the pan -European Fienean Reflection Group (European Council on Foreign Relations – ECFR) , against the backdrop of friction between the EU and the United States concerning customs duties.
This point of view is shared by half of those questioned within the framework of the survey and by the majority of those questioned in countries traditionally close to the United Statessuch as Denmark, Germany and Poland.
“”This represents a big change for some countries which used to be strongly transatlantic“Explains Pawel Zerka, principal researcher in ECFR politics.”But it is understandable, because if Donald Trump no longer presents the transatlantic alliance as a real alliance, but as something that must be transactional, then we simply accept it.“”
For the analyst, this study marks a major change. “”So we are talking about transatlantic twilight Because we think that the old transatlantic system is over and that a new system is supposed to see the light of day“.
According to Pawel Zerka, the situation should be considered a “opportunity“For Europeans to try to set up a”Pragmatic approach in the United States rather than an idealistic approach“.
The survey was carried out in 11 EU countries – Including Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Estonia, Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary – as well as in Ukraine, Switzerland and Kingdom -United.
However, it also shows divergences of opinion on Donald Trump himself, with More supporters in southeast Europe and more detractors in the countries of the North and Western of the continent.
Almost half (49 %) of the Hungarians interviewed think that Donald Trump’s re -election is positive for world peace, and 45 % of Bulgarians and Romanians share this opinion. On the other hand, 62 % of Danes and 55 % of the Germans questioned think that it will be “bad“For peace in the world.
The study also indicates that the perception of Europeans of Europe and its role in the world varies considerably. The most numerous camp, that of “Euro-optimists“, believes that The EU is a great power And that it is unlikely to collapse over the next two decades. They represent 30 % Persons interviewed, the most important group in Estonia, Denmark, Ukraine, Spain and Portugal. On the other hand, 22 % people interviewed are “Europessimists“, who think that The EU is not a power and that she is sentenced to collapse.
“”Many people doubt that the EU is a great power capable of treating as equals with countries like China or the United States. There are also many people in the EU who question the resilience of the block and think that it is likely that the EU collapses in the next ten or twenty years“, notes Pawel Zerka. He adds that”There are several shades of gray“And that those who think that the EU will collapse and that it is not a great power”are actually a minority“.
The overall sample of the study included 18,507 respondents.
