Europe Tilts East: Support for closer China ties surges 15 points as calls grow for tougher stance on US and Big Tech

European citizens show stronger support for closer ties to China and call for a tougher stance on the US and Big Tech. These are some of the main findings of the ‘European Tech Insights Report 2025’, developed by IE University’s Center for the Governance of Change. This annual monitor, which analyzes the views of citizens in ten European countries, reflects a 15-point rise in approval for deeper engagement with China since 2023. The IE University report shows a continent that welcomes innovation yet demands that technological progress remains grounded in human values and committed to social welfare. It also highlights a stronger desire for Europe to assert its independence on the world stage.

Key findings include: 

• Support for closer ties with China has risen 15 points since 2023, as over a third of Europeans call for a stronger stance toward the US and Big Tech.
• 71% of Europeans favor directing public funds towards education and healthcare rather 
• than AI competitiveness. 
• Over half of Europeans (51.5%) believe technology is bringing people closer together
• A majority of citizens 53% of citizens oppose higher defense spending at the cost of social programs. 
• 90% prefer an imperfect human boss over a perfect AI one, and 77% reject AI in children’s education.
• 72% want sensitive data stored exclusively on European servers.

As Irene Blázquez-Navarro, Director at the IE Center for the Governance of Change, noted: "Understanding how technology is transforming society has become a strategic imperative. We map its impact on politics, prosperity, peace, and security, working across institutions and sectors while recognizing one decisive actor: citizens. Only an informed and critically engaged public can ensure that technological change strengthens our collective future. Our European Tech Insights project embodies this conviction".

"Europeans are sending a nuanced message: they seem to embrace technological progress, but not if it undermines security or their social safety net" said Carlos Luca de Tena, Executive Director at the IE Center for the Governance of Change. "The data reveals a call for innovation that not only serves people and societies, but strengthens the continent’s ability to act independently on the global stage".

Technology with purpose. Across Europe, citizens express strong support for technological advancement when it promotes inclusion and well-being. While only 22% see competitiveness as Europe’s main technological goal, 42% prioritize safety and resilience, and 36% favor inclusion. A large majority (71%) would prefer public funds to be directed toward education and healthcare rather than simply boosting AI competitiveness. For Europeans, technology is most valuable when it enhances social welfare.

An informed approach to AI. Europeans are calling for responsible and ethical AI development. The report reveals that a vast majority oppose its use in contexts that involve care or ethical judgment: 77% reject AI in their children’s education, 81% would not trust it to manage their finances, and 90% prefer a human manager to an automated one.  The CGC researchers confirm that these results reflect "a desire for technology that respects human values and accountability".

Confidence in Europe’s global role. In a shifting geopolitical environment, Europeans continue to see the United States as a strategic ally while growing more open to Beijing, with support for closer ties rising 15 points since 2023 (and up to 39% of under 25 siding with China). Nearly four in ten citizens believe Europe should assert itself more strongly in response to U.S. and Big Tech influence. According to the report’s authors, these attitudes reflect a Europe that is increasingly confident and autonomous on the world stage.

A stronger commitment to European sovereignty. The CGC report highlights that technological and defense sovereignty have become central to public opinion. Almost half of Europeans (47%) would accept higher defense spending even at the cost of social programs. Most citizens (63%) prefer European-made security technologies, even at a higher price, and 72% want sensitive data stored exclusively on European servers. These findings highlight a collective will to strengthen Europe’s capacity, security, and independence.

*Survey Methodology. The European Tech Insights 2025 survey was conducted in October 2025. It gathered responses from over 3,000 adults across ten countries: Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The samples were nationally representative in terms of age, gender, region, and education level.

About IE University’s Center for the Governance of Change (CGC)

The Center for the Governance of Change (CGC) is an applied-research, educational institution based at IE University that studies the political, economic, and societal implications of the current technological revolution and advances solutions to overcome its unwanted effects. The CGC does so by producing pioneering impact-oriented research that cuts across disciplines and methodologies to unveil the complexity of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Blockchain, and Robotics, and explore its potential threats and contributions to society.