Kenneth Glad
Nearly three-quarters of EU citizens now say the bloc should chart a more independent course. The findings reflect public opinion, not official EU policy.
58 percent of Europeans surveyed no longer see the United States as a trustworthy partner. The U.S. is still named more often than any other country as Europe’s most important partner, but that support has dropped sharply.
31 percent now identify Washington as the EU’s most valuable ally, down 20 percentage points from 2024. The polling was carried out between September 2024 and March 2026.
The figures were released by Bertelsmann Stiftung in a May 7 press statement summarizing its latest eupinions polling.
Independence gains
The survey also found rising support for a more autonomous European Union. According to the press release, 73 percent of EU citizens now say the EU should “go its own way,” compared with 63 percent in 2024.
Europe Day, marked on May 9, commemorates the Schuman Declaration of 1950, a proposal by French foreign minister Robert Schuman to place French and West German coal and steel production under a shared authority.
The plan helped lay the foundations for what later became the European Union, making the date a symbolic moment for debates about Europe’s future.
Florian Kommer, Senior Expert for European Strategic Issues at the Bertelsmann Stiftung, said:
“The message ahead of this year’s Europe Day is unmistakable: Europeans want to become more independent from the United States. Trust has eroded, America’s standing as Europe’s central partner has fallen. The partnership is not beyond repair, but our data point to a deeper, structural rift in transatlantic relations. European citizens are calling for greater independence, notably in foreign and security policy. Policymakers need to translate this call into detailed policies and a real investment in Europe’s own capabilities.”
No China shift
The polling does not suggest that Europeans are turning to China as a replacement partner, though. Bertelsmann Stiftung reports that skepticism toward Beijing remains strong, while many respondents support reducing dependencies even if that carries economic costs.
Among Western allies, the United Kingdom and Canada are being named more often as important partners. NATO also retains broad support, with 63 percent of respondents still viewing it as central to Europe’s security.
Brandon Bohrn, Senior Expert for Transatlantic Relations at the Bertelsmann Stiftung, said:
“In this context, building a stronger and more self-reliant Europe goes hand in hand with expanding its partnerships to ensure greater resilience and strategic stability.”
Sources: Bertelsmann Stiftung press release, eupinions polling.
