The relationship of Catalans with the European Union is strengthening 40 years after Spain’s accession, but it is not without nuances. The pro-European sentiment continues to grow, especially among the younger generations, who see the community project as a shield of protection in an uncertain global context. However, this support coexists with some lack of knowledge and a more critical view of the functioning of European institutions and their ability to provide effective responses to citizens’ concerns.
In this context, the housing crisis, common to most Member States, appears in the debate and is positioned as a priority issue for the upcoming EU budgets for 2028-2034. More than half of Catalans (52%) mention it when asked what the priorities should be, ahead of defense, migration policy, or climate change, as reflected in a survey by the Centre d’Estudis d’Opinió (CEO) of the Generalitat and the European Parliament Office in Barcelona conducted from March 23 to April 13 based on 1,000 telephone interviews with EU citizens residing in Catalonia.
The survey, commissioned on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Spain and Portugal’s accession to the EU, concludes that six out of ten Catalans (58%) consider themselves very or quite pro-European, compared to 37% who say they feel little or not at all pro-European. However, this sentiment rises to 65% in the 18 to 24 age group, while only 28% of the youngest say they do not feel it. Compared to the previous survey from 2024, pro-Europeanism among the youngest has increased by 29 points.
The head of the EP office in Barcelona, Sergi Barrera, recalled that the fieldwork was done between March and April, “a period of high international political tension” that “possibly activated pro-Europeanism, especially among the younger generations.” Barrera highlighted this Monday during the presentation of the survey that these are “relevant data as a society, because in recent years a narrative had been consolidated according to which young people are on the margins and disconnected from the European project. This picture points out that not only are they not, but they lead support for the EU.”
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Geopolitical challenges
Catalans, in general, demand more from Europe, especially greater integration and joint action in the face of major geopolitical challenges. In this area, 82% support a common security and defense policy, although only 26% advocate for increased spending. 89% believe the EU should respond jointly to threats to the territorial integrity of Member States. Almost two out of three respondents (62%) think it is important that partners are also part of NATO. Regarding Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, support for sanctions and European action is majority (74% and 67%, respectively).
The increase in pro-Europeanism among Catalans—which at 58% is three points higher than in 2024—is not explained by an improvement in the assessment of the functioning of community institutions. Only 37% consider the functioning of the European Union positive or very positive, compared to 31% who rate it negatively, and a large majority perceive that Catalonia’s voice is little or not at all taken into account in Brussels (90%). Support for Europe, therefore, coexists with a critical view of its performance and response capacity.
The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Javi López, has pointed out that part of the increase in negative perceptions towards the European Union compared to 2024 is related to the management of the conflict in Gaza and, in general, to the European response to the situation in the Middle East. “Legitimate criticisms for its inability to provide a response commensurate with the magnitude of the crimes being committed in the Strip,” he added. In his opinion, this rise in pro-Europeanism is also explained by the new geopolitical context marked by Donald Trump’s return to the White House. He concluded that, faced with the threats embodied by Vladimir Putin and Trump himself, Catalans “ask for more Europe.”
