Spanish citizens believe that education and research are the main areas that the European Union should prioritize in the future to strengthen its position in the world, while the European average believes that attention should focus on security and defense, as revealed by a Eurobarometer published on Tuesday by the European Parliament, reports Efe.
According to this survey conducted in January, 36% of Europeans point to security and defense as the main issue for the European Union to focus on to enhance its role in the world, but only 20% of Spaniards share that diagnosis.
At the same time, 40% of Spaniards place education and research in the top position, something that only 23% of the European average does.
Spaniards and Europeans, however, agree on placing competitiveness, the economy, and industry as the second priority area for the European Union, and both also rank agriculture and food security high on the list.
The Eurobarometer reveals a similar trend when asking citizens about the topics on which the European Parliament should legislate more urgently: although in this case, they agree that the priority should be reducing inflation and addressing the rising cost of living, they differ in the importance they give to defense: 31% of Europeans point to it compared to only 14% of Spaniards.
Conversely, 40% of Spaniards call for more support at the European Parliament level for public health, a percentage that drops to 25% in the European average.
Spaniards also rank above the EU average in calling for the European Parliament to act against social exclusion, poverty, or in job creation, but below their partners in demanding the same for the migration crisis or the fight against terrorism.
Overall, a majority of Europeans believe that in recent years, the role of the EU in protecting its citizens from global crises and security risks has become more important and that this trend should continue in the future.
There is also a consensus among Spaniards and Europeans that the European Union should be more united to face current global challenges and will need more resources to do so.
On the other hand, 49% of Spaniards have a "positive" image of the European Union, and 78% believe that the European Parliament should have a more relevant role in the community bloc, although only 38% have a good image of this institution.
A majority of Spaniards (76%) and Europeans (74%) are convinced that their countries' European membership has benefited them, although Spaniards mainly emphasize that it has brought new job opportunities and economic growth to Spain, while the European average values more its contribution to protecting peace and security.