63% of Europeans say EU's best years are behind it. 77% fear next generation faces harder life. 65% believe their country heads wrong direction. 71% want countries to aggressively push national interests. 57% support boosting defense spending. 71% back stronger national migration control. Nordics show least pessimism due to high trust. France tops pessimism at 79% seeing wrong direction. Poland hits 82% support for defense spending. War in Ukraine fuels security fears especially near Russia. Trump viewed negatively by two-thirds fearing economic harm. Non-Europeans see EU as stronger power than Europeans do. Pessimism stems from COVID, energy crisis, inflation, Ukraine war. Rising nationalism threatens EU integration and Schengen. Over half demand fundamental political system reforms. Eurosceptic populists gain from eroding EU trust.