Global superpowers like the U.S., China, and Russia struggle to find their footing in European public opinion.

However, the European Union (EU) itself has managed to hold onto a solid 60% approval rating. 

It’s a trend that has been brewing for years.

The visualization above shows the results from a Gallup survey, showing how citizens across EU countries feel about the bloc’s leadership.

TL;DR

• EU’s approval rating within the bloc remains solid at 60%
• Perhaps the biggest symbol of Europe’s new “strategic autonomy” is its final divorce from Russian energy. 

The survey engaged about 1,000 adults (15 and older) in 27 EU countries and territories from 2007 to 2025 via telephone and face-to-face.

Most Liked Major Power Among Members (2007-2025)

Interestingly, the EU’s leadership actually started outranking the German government in popularity back in 2019. 

That was the year Angela Merkel announced she would eventually be stepping down, and Berlin hasn’t quite reclaimed its top-tier status since. 

Even so, Germany remains a powerhouse of public trust, holding a steady 54% approval rating within the bloc in 2025.

This stability at home is a stark contrast to how Europeans feel about their traditional allies across the Atlantic.

“Atlantic Gap” Widens

The relationship between Brussels and Washington has seen better days. 

As President Donald Trump moves through the first year of his second term, approval for U.S. leadership among EU members has tumbled to just 21%.

This isn’t exactly uncharted territory. 

The rating is nearly identical to the lows seen at the end of Trump’s first term in 2020 and the final years of George W. Bush administration. 

However, the reasons for the current slump are uniquely modern. 

The start of 2025 saw the U.S. slap heavy tariffs on EU goods, sparking trade friction that hasn’t quite cooled off.

The Great Gas Breakup

Perhaps the biggest symbol of Europe’s new “strategic autonomy” is its final divorce from Russian energy. 

Just this week, the EU gave the green light to a complete ban on Russian gas imports.

Under this landmark agreement, the timeline is clear:

• Late 2026: A total halt of Russian Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) imports.
• September 30, 2027: The final shut-off for pipeline gas.

This decision marks the end of a 50-year energy relationship. 

While Russia’s approval rating within the EU did see a tiny tick upward (moving from 7% to 10%) it remains at rock bottom. 

Most analysts view this small increase as “noise” rather than a genuine warming of relations, especially as Moscow’s oil and gas revenues dropped significantly throughout 2025.

Chinese leadership across the EU

While Russia remains a pariah, China has managed to make some surprising gains. 

Approval of Chinese leadership across the EU jumped by eight points to 22% last year. While that’s still quite low, it is the highest rating Beijing has seen in Europe since 2019.

Why the sudden interest? 

It’s not necessarily that Europeans have fallen in love with Beijing’s policies. 

Instead, as the U.S. pivots toward a more protectionist “America First” stance, some EU members are eyeing China as a necessary, if complicated, strategic alternative for trade.

Sources: 

Gallup Survey | DW News |