Most Hungarians continue to see European Union membership as a good thing, but enthusiasm is clearly cooling, and now sits below the EU average, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey.
The share of respondents in Hungary who believe EU membership is beneficial fell to 55%, down from 59% in the previous survey. Meanwhile, 38% of respondents adopted a neutral stance, while 7% said membership is a bad thing.
While outright opposition remains limited, the figures point to a softening of pro-EU sentiment, at a time when uncertainty around the economy and living standards weighs heavily on public opinion.
Economic caution dominates sentiment
Hungarians are notably more cautious than their European peers when it comes to personal economic prospects. Around 72% of respondents expressed concern, with most expecting little or no improvement in their living standards over the next five years.
Despite concerns at the household level, Hungarians remain surprisingly upbeat about the future of the European Union itself. While the EU average optimism rate stands at 57%, nearly two-thirds of Hungarians (64%) said they are optimistic about the bloc’s future.
What Hungarians want from Brussels
The survey also sheds light on policy priorities, with Hungarians urging EU decision-makers to focus on bread-and-butter issues: inflation, employment, healthcare, food security. By contrast, topics such as digitalization and gender equality attracted relatively low interest among respondents.
Strong support for a more united EU
On strategic issues, Hungarians overwhelmingly favor a stronger and more cohesive European Union as 85% believe EU member states should act more cohesively in response to global challenges, 81% say the EU needs more tools to manage crises, and 83% support the EU having a stronger voice in international politics.
