More than 70 percent of residents of European Union (EU) countries believe that the EU should distance itself from the US and go its own way, according to a study by the Bertelsmann Stiftung (foundation) of Germany.

According to the report, which was conducted from September 2024 to March 2026, a total of 73 percent of respondents were in favor of a more independent course for the EU. For comparison, in 2024, a total of 63 percent of respondents had supported this position.

Also, the conductors of this study note a decrease in trust in Washington. A total of 58 percent of respondents said that they do not consider the US a reliable partner for the EU. The percentage of those who called the US the main ally of the EU has decreased from 51 percent in 2024 to 31 percent in 2026.

In 2024, a total of 26,500 residents of EU countries had participated in the survey, but in 2026—18 thousand.

The margin of error does not exceed one percentage point.