Amárach Research was commissioned by European Movement Ireland to undertake research on attitudes to the EU across the island of Ireland. This work builds on previous research commissioned by EM Ireland on an annual basis since 2013.

This research programme was built around a nationally representative sample of 1,200 respondents in both jurisdictions. The survey data collection was undertaken online, and the data was collected and analysed on Amárach’s VoxCo platform.

The two surveys ran simultaneously in both locations. Fieldwork dates were 26ᵗʰ – 31st March 2026. The questionnaire was simultaneously administered in both jurisdictions.

• Support for Ireland’s membership of the EU remains strong at 82% in Ireland, unchanged from 2025, and is down 1% in Northern Ireland to 76%.
• While stable, this still represents the lowest support for EU membership since polling began in 2013, peaking in 2019 at 93%.
• 71% of respondents in Ireland think the EU should seek greater independence from the US, with support even higher in Northern Ireland at 79%, notwithstanding strong and enduring ties between Ireland and the US.
• Less than half of respondents in Ireland think the EU is moving in the right direction 45%, while 33% feel the EU is not upholding its core values.
• Respondents attribute their dissatisfaction to migration 31%, EU regulation 27%, and sovereignty 26%.
• Those who believe the EU is moving in the right direction 45%, cited unity and cooperation 33%, economic benefits 25%, and stability and security 19%.
• The cost of living is the top issue of concern for respondents in Ireland 58%, and Northern Ireland 45%, followed by migration in both jurisdictions (ROI, 48%, NI, 42%).
• Housing is a significantly greater concern in Ireland 41%, compared to Northern Ireland 17%, where the EU’s response to conflict in the Middle East is a top 3 issue (NI, 41%, ROI, 34%)
• 48% support Ireland being part of increased EU defence and security cooperation, with 32% opposed and 20% unsure. However, concerns over EU militarisation have dropped to 10% (ROI, 24%, 2025).
• In Ireland, 35% believe their views are adequately represented at EU level, an increase of 5%. However, opinion remains divided, with 37% disagreeing and 27% unsure.
• 59% of respondents in Ireland and 63% of respondents in Northern Ireland said that if a referendum were held tomorrow on a united Ireland in the EU, they would vote in favour.  However, opposition is higher in the North (NI, 29%, ROI 22%), while the level of ‘don’t know’ is higher in the South (ROI, 19%, NI, 8%).
• Given that some EU laws still apply in Northern Ireland, 73% of respondents in the North believe that Northern Ireland should have a greater say in EU decision-making. 73% would also vote in favour of rejoining the EU in a UK referendum.
• The largest share of respondents in Ireland 37% and Northern Ireland 38%, said they do not trust governing institutions, but support for the Irish Government has increased by 6% to 36%.
• The EU remains the most trusted institution in Northern Ireland at 28%, followed by the Irish Government at 20%. Support for the Northern Ireland Executive has reached its lowest point of 5%.