Irish second in EU for concerns about spending on defence
Irish people have the second-highest rate of criticism about the lack of investment in defence of their own country in the EU, according to a new report, writes Seán McCárthaigh.
The Eurobarometer poll revealed 48% of us believe the level of spending on defence and security here is “not enough”, compared to the EU average of 34%.
Only people living in Portugal, 50%, had a higher rate of criticism about spending on key defence and security programmes on a national level.
The survey showed 38% of Irish citizens also claim the level of investment by the EU on similar measures is insufficient – again the second highest in the EU after France, 43%, and above the EU average of 34%.
Almost seven in ten of us believe the security of Ireland is under threat against the background of current global politics.
The report highlighted how 67% of Irish respondents consider their country’s security is at risk, including 23% who strongly fear the security of the State is threatened.
The view is widely shared among other Europeans as 68% have the same concern.
The proportion of citizens who fear the security of their country is under threat exceeds 75% in several EU states including France, 80%, Netherlands, 77%, and Denmark, 76%, while above-average figures were recorded in Germany, 74%, Lithuania, 73%, and Sweden, 72%.
With 67% of Irish people concerned about our security, we are ranked joint 11th with Poland.
The lowest levels of concern were in Slovenia, Croatia and Czechia, although half of their citizens still consider the security of their country to be under threat.
The report noted a quarter or even a third of the population of many countries said they strongly agreed with such a view.
“Such a pronounced level of concern indicates the sense of insecurity is not superficial but deeply rooted,” it observed.
The report also highlighted how 46% of Irish respondents felt their personal safety was at risk given the current international context.
The survey was conducted last month to assess the perceptions of EU citizens of security threats, trust in the EU’s defence role and support for defence investment as well as views on space programmes.
It sought the views of around 27,300 people across the EU, including almost 1,200 in the Republic.
The report noted the survey was done during heightened international uncertainty about negotiations over Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East, and global attention to events like Donald Trump’s activities over Venezuela and Greenland.
It found the perceptions of insecurity were widespread with little difference across all ages and genders.
The survey revealed 58% of Irish people trust the capacity of the EU to strengthen security in Europe and better protect its citizens compared to the EU average of 52%.
While a majority of citizens in most states trust the EU to strengthen security, levels of trust are comparatively lower in the three largest countries – Germany, France and Italy.
The report said it is predominantly smaller or medium-sized states where populations express the greatest confidence in the EU.
The report noted the survey was done during heightened international uncertainty. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
However, it said national threat perceptions and trust in the EU do not always go hand in hand, as with the striking case of France which has the highest perceived threat level yet the lowest trust in the EU.
The survey found Irish people believed security should be the top priority for future EU space policy (32%) ahead of action on the environment and climate (21%) and safer mobility and transport (12%).
Overall, there was recognition in Ireland and across the EU of the economic impact of EU space programmes, but their perceived effects on daily life remain limited.
