Citizens of the European Union value European principles. According to the latest Eurobarometer survey, 57% are satisfied with the way democracy works in the EU. At the same time, 73% agree that the European Union is a place of stability in a troubled world. Europeans also expect EU institutions to protect these values. For the first time in history, the European Parliament has awarded the European Order of Merit for contributions to promoting EU ideals and European integration. Twenty people received the distinction, including two Poles.
“In the public opinion surveys we conduct, namely the Eurobarometer, issues such as democracy, peace and the rule of law always rank highly among the answers to the question of why we should engage in the European project. This project is based precisely on democracy and peace, which we build together, including through the way we overcome differences in order to face challenges collectively. These challenges are greater than the capabilities of any single Member State. Let us look at the challenges we face in terms of competitiveness, defence and climate,” Delphine Collard, spokesperson for the European Parliament, told Newseria.
According to the spring 2026 edition of the Eurobarometer survey, 51% of Europeans trust the European Union. A total of 81% support a common defence and security policy among Member States, while 76% agree that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine poses a threat to EU security.
The previous Eurobarometer edition, published in autumn 2025, showed that two-thirds of citizens would like the EU to play a greater role in protecting them against global crises and security threats. Nearly 90% believed that Member States should be more united in order to face current global challenges. Europeans also said that the European Parliament should prioritise peace, indicated by 52% of respondents, democracy by 35%, freedom of speech and thought by 23%, and the protection of human rights by 22%.
“We should show our citizens the values and achievements of the European Union, such as Erasmus, roaming and the Schengen Area, because we often forget, especially young people, that these are the result of the European Union. Without it, we would not have these things that are now so important and fundamental to us. Sometimes people take them for granted. We do not always see that this is the result of a European decision,” Collard emphasised.
The Schengen Area is one of the most important achievements of European integration. In this year’s CBOS survey, Poles asked about the greatest benefits of EU membership most often pointed to open borders and freedom of travel, mentioned by 73% of respondents. Access to EU funds was indicated by 47%, while 52% pointed to improved infrastructure in Poland.
In total, 60% of CBOS respondents believe that Poland’s presence in the European Union brings the country more benefits than losses. Slightly more than one in five respondents hold the opposite view, believing that Poland tends to lose more than it gains. The personal impact of EU membership is perceived less clearly, although positive assessments also dominate in this area, at 53%.
“The quality of the chocolate we eat results from the fact that we protect our producers and ensure that products are not made using child labour or unethical practices. Cars and the tests they undergo to ensure safety also have a European dimension. It is also about the possibility of travelling, receiving compensation if a flight is cancelled, and roaming, meaning the ability to call one another during holidays without paying higher charges,” the European Parliament spokesperson said.
“Sometimes we do not realise that all of this is the result of integration, within which Members of the European Parliament and members of national governments worked together to find very practical, and sometimes even surprising, solutions to problems that we all face as European citizens,” she added.
Last year, the Bureau of the European Parliament decided to establish the first European distinction awarded by an EU institution. Its purpose is to honour the achievements of individuals who have made a significant contribution to European integration and to the promotion and defence of European values. This week, the European Orders of Merit were formally presented.
“The European Order of Merit is the first European civil distinction of its kind. It was established by Parliament last year on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Schuman Declaration. Its aim is to honour and recognise the contribution of Europeans who helped build the European Union as it is today, contributed to its development, supported European values and democracy, and sent a signal of hope to future generations,” Collard explained. “The EU is an unfinished project that requires continuation, and it is individuals who move it forward.”
The order was awarded to 20 people, including two Poles. Jerzy Buzek, former Prime Minister of Poland and former President of the European Parliament, became an honorary member of the order, as did Jean-Claude Trichet, former President of the European Central Bank. Distinguished members of the order include former Polish President Lech Wałęsa, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine. Thirteen of the recipients attended Tuesday’s ceremony in Strasbourg.
“It is important to understand where we come from and to appreciate the contribution of individuals who shaped our Union by supporting healthcare systems, developing law, sport and art, strengthening the rule of law or bridging the gap between East and West, contributing to the flourishing of the European Parliament or, as in the case of Jean-Claude Trichet, to the introduction of the euro,” Collard stressed.
“Throughout their careers, in the various sectors in which they were active, they contributed to building bridges within the European Union and to creating this beautiful whole that we are working on together,” she added.
