Europeans should stand united in the face of threats from around the world, according to 84% of Bulgarians and 89% of EU citizens, according to a new Eurobarometer survey conducted in January and early February. The survey was presented by the European Parliament on Tuesday.

The majority of respondents (73% in Bulgaria and 76% in the EU) say that the EU needs more funding to cope with threats. 62% of Bulgarians and 66% of EU citizens agree that the EU should have a greater role in responding to crises and security threats, reports IT.

According to 37% of Bulgarians and 44% of EU citizens, the role of the EU will increase in the coming years. 21% of Bulgarians and 18% of respondents at the EU level expect this role to decrease. When asked where the EU's role should increase, 36% of respondents in the EU and 26% in Bulgaria say it is defense. The second choice (35% of respondents in the EU and 32% in Bulgaria) is the economy and the third is energy independence (34% in the EU and 27% in Bulgaria), reports KosovaPress.

A third of respondents in the EU and a quarter in Bulgaria expect living standards to worsen in the next five years. For more than 70% in the EU and over 60% in Bulgaria, EU membership brings benefits and these are reflected in their daily lives.