Dan Dungaciu, Vice-President of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, has drawn attention to a new opinion poll. Its findings suggest that a shared European identity, often invoked in Brussels, remains largely an illusion.

In her State of the Union address in September 2026, Ursula von der Leyen declared that the only true sovereignty was “European sovereignty.”

But what do Europeans themselves think?

Dungaciu points to the latest survey data:

“Eurobarometer 105, conducted in spring and summer 2026, paints a revealing picture. Only 3% of EU citizens identify as ‘European only’.

“Meanwhile, 90% identify either as ‘national only’ (31%) or as both ‘national and European’ (59%). For 7% of Europeans, their European identity is stronger than their national identity.

“The real Europe is, above all, a Europe of nations!” the politician concludes.

Dungaciu accuses von der Leyen of overstepping her mandate

Dungaciu accuses Ursula von der Leyen of claiming the right to speak on behalf of all Europeans.

He argues that she is trying to impose a model of European sovereignty without a democratic mandate from the public.

In his view, Europe belongs to the nations that make it up. European sovereignty should not come at the expense of national sovereignty.

He warns that such an approach could weaken democracy. It could also undermine Europe’s own identity.

Dungaciu links this conflict to political crises and what he sees as attacks on democracy across Europe. He points to developments in Romania, Poland, France and Germany.

He concludes:

“The von der Leyen Commission is not Europe. This is the central flaw in the entire project: sovereignty cannot be proclaimed by an institution on behalf of a supposed ‘European people’ who do not actually exist!”