Europeans divided on increased NATO defence spending, survey finds

The Hague (dpa) – Support for the planned increases in defence spending by NATO member states have sparked varied reactions across Europe.

A survey published on Monday by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) found that support for increased defence spending is highest in Poland and Denmark (70 percent), followed by Britain (57 percent), Estonia (56 percent) and Portugal (54 percent).

In Germany, 47 percent of respondents expressed support for increased spending. However, in Spain (46 percent), France and Hungary (45 percent), support is less definitive.

Italy can be considered an outlier, with 57 percent strongly or in principle against higher defence spending, according to the survey. Only 17 percent of those surveyed support the plan.

For the survey, more than 16,000 people were interviewed across 12 European countries between the middle and end of May. The think tank commissioned the opinion research institutes Datapraxis, YouGov and Norstat.

Opinions on the reintroduction of compulsory military service also vary widely. In France, 62 percent of respondents are in favour, in Germany 53 percent and in Poland 51 percent. In Spain and Britain, only 37 percent of respondents were in favour.

In countries with existing compulsory military service, attitudes were not surveyed.

EU leaders will discuss defence spending at a debate about defence and security at an EU summit in Brussels later this week. (June 23)