82% endorse Irish EU membership, however 43% do not believe their views are reflected at EU level
08 May 2025
Support for Ireland’s membership of the European Union remains strong at 82% in 2025, however it has dropped to its lowest level since 2013. Now in its twelfth year, the annual European Movement Ireland Poll, conducted with Amárach Research is the only island of Ireland poll dedicated to European affairs.
While strong support for the EU remains consistent, in Ireland 43% do not believe their views are represented at EU level. Furthermore, 34% feel the EU is not upholding its core values and 26% are dissatisfied with its direction. They attribute their dissatisfaction to issues such as the migration response (35%), EU regulation (24%), militarisation of the EU (24%), with the EU perceived as weakest in both jurisdictions on the issue of migration in Ireland (51%) and Northern Ireland (50%).
Meanwhile, 36% are dissatisfied with Ireland’s role and influence in Brussels. This comes at a time when Ireland remains underrepresented in EU institutions, underlining the continuing need to promote and foster a strong Irish career pipeline within the EU.
Commenting on the findings of European Movement Ireland’s EU 2025 poll with Amárach Research, Noelle O Connell, CEO European Movement Ireland said; “It is encouraging to see strong support for EU membership in Ireland, albeit a decline on recent years. In our twelfth year of polling, it is clear that we cannot be complacent, with some people expressing dissatisfaction with the EU’s current trajectory and Irish influence at EU level.
At a pivotal time in European politics with intensifying efforts to end the war in Ukraine, the ongoing issues relating to EU-US trade which could have serious implications for Ireland, and the increasing influence of populism, among other issues, it is important citizens feel their views are heard across all levels of the EU.”
EM Ireland’s 2025 poll demonstrates that people attach importance not only to domestic concerns but also to foreign policy issues. The cost of living (56%) was cited as the most pressing issue for people in the Republic, particularly for younger people, with housing (41%) also featuring strongly among respondents’ top five worries, along with migration (53%). However, EU-US relations (44%) the EU’s response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict (43%) and to the Israel-Palestine conflict (41%) were also prominent concerns. Meanwhile, respondents in Northern Ireland cited the Israel-Palestine conflict as their top concern at EU level (52%).
Although some expressed dissatisfaction with EU militarisation (24%), 50% in the Republic believe Ireland should be part of increased EU defence and security cooperation, with 32% opposing it and 18% are unsure. Younger people, between 18-24, expressed most uncertainty (30%), while there was a notable difference in support for greater security cooperation between women (38%) and men (62%).
Ms. O Connell said; “This year’s poll clearly shows that Irish people are worried about both domestic and global issues – from the cost of living and housing to EU-US relations and the EU’s response to migration and international conflicts. As the debate on the future of Europe’s security and defence continues, building trust, dialogue and understanding around this complex issue is more important than ever.”
Despite the range of concerns highlighted in the poll, 47% of respondents in Ireland are satisfied with the EU’s direction. At a time of unprecedented global upheaval and crisis, there is a strong endorsement of the benefits the EU brings in terms of influence and collective action, with unity and cooperation (41%), stability and security (16%) as some of the key reasons for people believing that the EU is moving in the right direction. Economic benefits (19%) were also cited as an important factor.
Furthermore, although there is much uncertainty regarding trade into the future, respondents in both jurisdictions rated the bloc’s performance strongly, 40% in Ireland and even higher at 49% in Northern Ireland. The EU also fared well in its management of the European economy in Ireland (21%).
Ms. O Connell said; “It is also notable to see the EU sustain confidence in trade performance under the shadow of tariff uncertainty. Equally, it is promising to observe the solid ratings for the EU’s management of the European economy in Ireland, which highlights the EU’s capacity to deliver on critical agendas.”
European Movement Ireland EU Poll 2025 also reveals that a majority would support a united Ireland within the EU, with 67% in Northern Ireland and 62% in Ireland in favour. A higher proportion of people in the North (27%) are against a united Ireland in comparison to the South (16%), with a greater number of people in the Republic (22%) saying they don’t know, compared to just (7%) in Northern Ireland.
In the North a significant majority (60%) believe that changes in the EU-UK relationship following Brexit have not improved Northern Ireland’s relationship with the EU, only 29% agree, while 11% remain unsure.
In what is a noteworthy finding, there is a major decline in trust in institutions with a majority in Ireland (40%) and Northern Ireland (39%) stating they do not trust governing institutions, with only 30% in the Republic expressing trust in the EU and the Irish Government. Interestingly, in Ireland, almost half (49%) of 18-24 year olds trust the EU the most, and in Northern Ireland, the EU is the most trusted institution (29%), with the least level of trust (6%) expressed in the Northern Ireland Executive only marginally behind the UK Government (7%).