Euroscope 15th wave

Introduction

Polling Europe’s latest EUROSCOPE survey offers a new snapshot of public opinion across the 27 EU Member States, based on 5,067 online interviews conducted between 21 and 30 September 2026.

This edition explores Europeans’ views on a broad set of international, EU and market-related issues, from the U.S. midterm elections and the importance of international solidarity, to Russian gas supplies, illegal immigration, European banking integration, recycling rules, transport investment priorities, and assisted and autonomous driving technologies.

On the international stage, Europeans show a clear preference for political continuity in Washington. 58% of respondents say they hope for a Democratic victory in the U.S. midterm elections, compared with 18% who would prefer a Republican win. At the same time, support for international cooperation remains strongest in areas tied to core collective concerns: defence of human rights (60%), natural disasters and pandemics (57%), and environmental protection and climate change (54%).

On EU policy issues, the survey points to a pragmatic and sometimes uneasy public mood. A majority of Europeans (62%) support a return to Russian gas sourcing, whether before the end of the war (30%) or only after the war has ended (32%), while 25% remain opposed. On illegal immigration, more than half (54%) believe the situation is worsening, confirming that migration remains a highly sensitive issue across the Union. By contrast, Europeans appear more open to deeper economic integration: 54% support reforms aimed at creating a more integrated European banking market, against 24% who oppose them.

The survey also highlights expectations for stronger action in market and industrial policy. On recycling, the largest group of respondents (45%) believe producers are already making efforts, but that new rules could further increase the use of recycled materials. In transport, Europeans identify roads and motorways (39%) and railway infrastructure (38%) as the top priorities for additional investment, ahead of emerging fuel technologies. As for assisted and autonomous driving, opinion remains mixed: 35% see investment in these technologies as important, while a comparable share remain sceptical or openly opposed.

Taken together, the findings portray a European public that remains attached to international cooperation, but increasingly driven by practical concerns around security, mobility, migration and economic resilience. Across several issues, respondents appear less guided by ideology than by a search for stability, protection and tangible results.