(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 10 - "Italy remains the only European country" among the 15 where the survey was conducted "to oppose additional military spending (58% versus 28% in favour), while public opinion in Estonia and Austria is divided (46% in favour versus 44% against and 45% in favour versus 45% against, respectively). This is according to a survey released by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) prior to the G7 summit. There is now widespread support for the EU to pursue a policy of strategic autonomy in defence. Europeans are increasingly favouring increased national defence spending between 2025 and 2026. Over the intervening period, the level of acceptance increased by an average of four percentage points. The most significant shift in attitudes is in Spain, where, despite previously equal views on the issue, support now outweighs opposition, according to the institute. At the same time, "Ukraine's candidature for EU membership continues to split European public opinion." Italians are mostly in favour (32% to 26% opposed). Respondents in Portugal, Spain, and Sweden are most supportive of the idea of "creating a new, broader European Union, extending to the East (for example, including Ukraine)," with 50%, 43%, and 42%, respectively, rating it as "a very good idea" or "quite good." Dutch citizens are also overwhelmingly supportive of EU enlargement to the east (35% in favour, 29% opposed). The data presented in this study are based on a public opinion survey conducted in May 2026 among an adult population (aged 18 and up) in 15 European countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. (ANSA).