Berlin (dpa) – For more than half of Germans, strengthening European cohesion remains the federal government’s most important foreign policy task. In a representative survey conducted by Forsa, this priority is cited by 54 per cent of respondents, making it by far the most frequently named government responsibility. The figure is three percentage points lower than it was in a comparable poll carried out in February.
In second place, 37 per cent (previously 38 per cent) prioritise boosting Germany’s defence capabilities. Newly ranking third, at 28 per cent (up from 20 per cent), is the task of curbing the influence of authoritarian states.
Global efforts to strengthen climate protection have slipped to fourth place, now at 23 per cent (down from 26 per cent), while strengthening relations with countries in the Global South – such as India, Brazil or African states – is cited as a priority by an almost unchanged 20 per cent (previously 19 per cent).
Expanding support for Ukraine ranks lowest at seven per cent according to the survey. Last February, this priority was named by 17 per cent.
The Forsa survey involved interviews with 1,005 people, carried out on 3 and 4 December.
