The European archipelago: Building bridges in a post-Western Europe
Think tank: European Council on Foreign Relations
Author(s): Celia Belin; Pawel Zierka
February 11, 2026
This report from UK think tank ECFR looks at levels of pessimism in most Europeans about their country and the world’s future.
One year into the second Trump presidency, a major ECFR poll, including the UK, finds that most Europeans are pessimistic about their countries’ and the world’s future. Many are realistic, as well: majorities and pluralities believe that greater defence spending is needed and recognise that the US is no longer an ally. However, those groups only partially overlap. The European public thus resembles an archipelago, each island comprising a different combination of opinions on defence, America and the EU itself. The report looks at how to bridge the islands to form majority coalitions for action.
