Europe is diverse, and if we focus on the 27 countries that make up the European Union, we see different societies with sometimes very disparate realities.

While in Portugal and Greece there is great concern about public health, in the Scandinavian countries it is a very secondary concern. In Denmark and Sweden, climate change is seen by citizens as a central priority, while in Eastern European countries barely 10% see it that way.

However, the data, collected in a Eurobarometer survey in 2025, does show a clear priority that politicians sometimes do not seem to be talking about much: the cost of living. Forty-one per cent of those surveyed chose it as one of the three main priorities that the European Parliament should have today.

All Evangelical Focus news and opinion, on your WhatsApp.

The second concern of citizens, according to those interviewed, is the defence of the EU against external threats.

What issues should be prioritised by the European Parliament?



According to EU citizens, inflation, rising prices and the cost of living (41%), defence and security (34%), and the fight against poverty and social exclusion (31%) should come first pic.twitter.com/VcHAfPaP91

— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) 6 November 2025

The European Parliament, which is voted on every five years (most recently in 2024 -link), has 720 representatives from all countries. Among the Members of the European Parliament who openly profess the Christian faith, seven are part of the European Christian Political Party (ECPP), a 20-year-old political movement that brings together members of different parties to promote ‘Christian values in the political sphere’ in the European Union, with principles such as peace, justice, equality, freedom, and solidarity.

Evangelical Focus asked Koen Strijk, communications officer for the ECPP, what its members think about these social concerns.

Question. The cost of living is clearly the main concern for Europeans in 2025. In the practice, this means that millions do not have access to a decent home. Do you think Christians are speaking enough about this issue?

Answer. The rising cost of living affects us all. It is important to see that issues like the rising cost of living, inflation, and housing prices are closely connected with various other policy fields – not only economic ones.

For example, these challenges come together when we talk about families. Families are heavily impacted, sometimes even struggling to provide for their children. Also, the housing situation is particularly difficult for young families and newly engaged couples seeking a place to live.

Thus, we would advocate prioritising families and people in need in economic challenging times. In the context of the European Union, we emphasise that such policies are best designed and implemented at level of the Member States.

While cost of living, inflation, and housing may not always be the topics Christian politicians are most known for – although some certainly are – they often address these issues indirectly. For example, ECPP Member of the European Parliament Niels Geuking from Germany consistently approaches them through the lens of families and family policies. As a member of the Special Committee on the Housing Crisis in the European Union, he promotes the prioritization of families.

Q. Looking at the statistics, one can tell the differences in importance that citizens in different countries give to Defence, Migration or Climate Change. What does it tell us about how Christians perceive these and other often controversial issues in different regions of Europe?

A. It is difficult to make broad statements about how Christians perceive these topics or why they might perceive them differently. As a person, and certainly as a politician, you only have limited time and attention. Therefore, you have to prioritise the topics you focus on, which are often the ones you are directly confronted with.

[destacate] “We condemn the Russian aggression against Ukraine and stand firm on the belief that its territorial integrity must be upheld”[/destacate]In every European country, people reflect on the problems they see in society — and Christians do the same. In the Baltic states, for example, Christians are also concerned about climate change, consumer protection, and digitalisation. However, EU defence and the war in Ukraine are far more prominent, as these countries share a border with Russia.

ECPP believes that we, as Christians, have a shared responsibility for God’s created world and environment. Also, we believe that the primary causes of mass migration such as climate change, poverty, religious or ethnic persecution, must be addressed and eliminated.

We condemn the Russian aggression against Ukraine and stand firm on the belief that its territorial integrity must be upheld, and international law must be safeguarded. This is reflected in the values and programme of ECPP, as well as the political positions, beliefs and convictions of our member organizations.

[destacate]“The EU is rooted in Christian values: the values of human dignity and fundamental freedoms”[/destacate]Q. Do you think the European Parliament is able to respond to these perceived needs in Europe? And what do you hope Christian MEPs can add to this conversation?

A. It is important to realize that the European Parliament is only a co-legislator at the European level. The European Council – the heads of government of the Member States – is necessary for real action, as is the European Commission, which has the right to initiate legislation.

For example, while the European Parliament is far more willing to arm and support Ukraine, the Council has been more reluctant or less ambitious in this regard.

In general, we regret the growing secularisation taking place across European countries, which also affects the politicians in the European Parliament. We observe that a majority of the Parliament seeks to address today’s challenges without taking into account the values on which the European Union was founded.

The EU is rooted in Christian values: the values of human dignity and fundamental freedoms. Robert Schuman, the founder of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) – which evolved into the European Union as we know it today – was a devout Christian who insisted that the European community must be built on Christian principles and on the human dignity.

ECPP stands in this tradition. While many people in Europe, including politicians, forget these foundations, it is the task of Christian politicians to keep values such as human dignity and fundamental freedoms (including freedom of religion and belief, both inside and outside the EU) at the forefront.

[destacate]“The primary causes of mass migration such as climate change, poverty, religious or ethnic persecution, must be addressed and eliminated”[/destacate]At the same time, they must offer realistic answers to pressing issues, while upholding the principle of subsidiarity and paying attention to the internal realities of Member States.

Christian politicians must continue to speak about Christian values. The values of human dignity and fundamental freedoms are relevant to everyone, whether they are believers or not.

20 years of collaboration

After two decades of collaboration as a ‘movement’, the ECPP recently converted into a party. At the beginning of December, it held its winter general assembly in Brussels, with the aim of bringing together ‘Christian leaders from across Europe to reflect, collaborate, and discuss our direction for the coming times’.

In the summer, the ECPP re-elected Valeriu Ghiletchi (Moldovan politician and Baptist pastor), a member of the Council of Europe, as its president.

[analysis]

[title]Join us to make EF sustainable[/title]

[photo][/photo]

[text]At Evangelical Focus, we have a sustainability challenge ahead. We invite you to join those across Europe and beyond who are committed with our mission. Together, we will ensure the continuity of Evangelical Focus and our Spanish partner Protestante Digital in 2025.

Learn all about our #TogetherInThisMission initiative here (English).

[/text][/analysis]