Irish people second most critical in EU of defence spending, survey finds
Seán McCárthaigh
Irish people have the second-highest rate of criticism about the lack of investment in defence and security of their own country among EU citizens, according to a new report published by the European Commission.
The Eurobarometer poll revealed that 48 per cent of people stated that the current level of public spending on defence and security measures in Ireland was “not enough” compared to the EU average of 34 per cent.
Only people living in Portugal, with 50 per cent, had a higher rate of criticism about spending on key defence and security programmes on a national level.
The survey showed that 38 per cent of Irish citizens also claim the level of investment by the EU on similar measures is insufficient – again the second highest rate in the EU after France (43 per cent) and above the EU average of 34 per cent.
Almost 7 out of every 10 Irish people also believe the security of Ireland is under threat against the background of current global politics.
The report highlighted how 67 per cent of Irish respondents consider their country’s security is at risk, including 23 per cent who strongly fear the security of the state is threatened.
The view is widely shared among other Europeans, as 68 per cent of all EU citizens have the same concern.
The proportion of citizens who fear the security of their own country is under threat exceeds 75 per cent in several EU member states including France (80 per cent), the Netherlands (77 per cent) and Denmark (76 per cent), while above-average figures were also recorded in Germany (74 per cent), Lithuania (73 per cent) and Sweden (72 per cent).
Ireland’s rate of concern about its security at 67 per cent is ranked joint 11th with Poland.
The lowest levels of concern were recorded in Slovenia, Croatia and Czechia, although approximately half of all their citizens still consider the security of their country to be under threat.
The report noted that 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 that the sense of insecurity is not superficial but deeply rooted,” it said.
The report also highlighted how 46 per cent 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 27 EU member states, including almost 1,200 in Ireland.
The report noted the survey was conducted against a background of heightened international uncertainty and evolving security dynamics, including ongoing negotiations about the war in Ukraine, escalating tensions in the Middle East and renewed global attention to political events in Venezuela and Greenland.
It found the perceptions of insecurity were widespread with little difference across all ages and genders.
The survey revealed that 58 per cent of Irish people also trust the capacity of the EU to strengthen security and defence in Europe and better protect its citizens, compared to the EU average of 52 per cent.
While a majority of citizens in most member states trust the EU to strengthen security and defence, levels of trust are comparatively lower in the union’s three largest countries – Germany, France and Italy.
The report said it is predominantly smaller or medium-sized countries where populations express the greatest confidence in the EU.
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 that Irish people believed security and defence should be the top priority for future EU space policy (32 per cent) ahead of action on the environment and climate change (21 per cent) and safer mobility and transport (12 per cent).
Overall, there was recognition in both Ireland and across the EU of the economic impact of EU space programmes, but their perceived effects on daily life remain limited.
