A significant majority of Europeans wants the European Union to be a greater force in international relations, according to the U.S. German Marshall Fund’s annual Transatlantic Trend survey, released yesterday. The findings were published by the EUobserver Friday.

Nearly 90 percent of Europeans want the EU to fulfill more important responsibilities on the world scene. Just over half said the bloc should cooperate with the United States against global threats, and 43 percent said the union should deal with them without U.S. involvement.

Wide margins of those Europeans who felt that the EU should play a bigger role agreed it should use aid for development (84 percent), trade (74 percent), and peacekeeping missions (68 percent) to bolster its influence.

Only 20 percent supported sending troops on combat missions, possibly a reflection of Europeans’ increasingly negative view toward the Iraqi and Afghani theaters in which President Bush and American troops are currently embroiled. President Bush has disapproval ratings of 77 percent among Europeans, according to EUobserver.

The Marshall survey was conducted in June via telephone and personal interviews.

With American soldiers and resources being consumed by the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, fires breaking out in Iran, Russia, China and Israel, and its transatlantic relations bruised, Washington will likely encourage Europe to take on a greater world role. For comprehensive analysis on where this role will lead, read Germany and the Holy Roman Empire.