We have observed the effects of phonon mode softening at the ferroelectric transition in Eu0.5Ba0.5TiO3 by 151Eu Mössbauer spectroscopy. Both Eu2+ and Eu3+ spectral components are observed in the relative area ratio of 90% : 10% and both show a decrease in subspectral area at the transition, centred at 175 K, due to phonon mode softening. Surprisingly, the temperature dependence of the f-factor shows a much stronger response in the Eu3+ component than in the Eu2+ one. Preliminary analysis of neutron powder diffraction data rules out the possibility that some of the europium might be located on titanium sites.