A severe heatwave sweeping across Europe has pushed temperatures to unprecedented levels, with Hungary recording its hottest day ever and electricity consumption reaching a new summer peak.
Temperature records were broken in other countries too, from Germany to southern Europe.
The extreme weather comes as Europeans express growing concerns about their economic future–and likely their electricity bills.
According to a Eurobarometer survey released on July 1st, inflation, rising prices, and the cost of living remain the main issues Europeans want the European Parliament to address.
The survey collected responses from more than 26,000 people across EU member states and found significant differences between generations.
Issues related to the cost of living is the top concern for 47% of EU citizens, up 6 percentage points from the previous survey. It is followed by concerns about the economy, job creation, and EU defence and security.
29% of EU citizens believe their personal standard of living will decline over the next five years, while only 18% expect it to improve.
Economic pessimism is highest among older citizens, with 34% of respondents aged 55 and over expecting their situation to worsen. Among younger respondents, the figure falls to 17%.
Expectations also differ significantly between countries.
France recorded the highest level of pessimism in the EU, with 44% of respondents expecting their situation to deteriorate. Portugal, Germany, and Austria also recorded relatively negative outlooks.
By contrast, Nordic countries and Central and Eastern European states reported more positive expectations. In Poland, only 9% of respondents expect their living standards to worsen, while Hungary recorded the lowest level of pessimism in the EU at 8%.
As Europeans endure a scorching summer, Brussels is busy waging its war on air conditioning.
