Only 28 percent are in favor, said the think tank European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in a press release on Tuesday. In comparison, Europeans as a whole are “open” to EU expansion to include Ukraine, it was said.
However, there are concerns that Ukraine’s accession to the EU might pose economic and security risks for the community and its member states – more than the admission of candidate countries from the Western Balkans. 45 percent of people surveyed by ECFR in six EU countries believe that Ukraine’s accession to the EU would have “negative effects” on EU security, while 25 percent expect “positive effects.” According to those surveyed, accession of the Western Balkan countries poses comparatively fewer risks.
In Austria, these concerns are even more pronounced: 62 percent of people believe that Ukraine’s accession would have “negative effects” on the security of the Union (compared to 17 percent who expect positive effects), and 50 percent share this assessment in the case of the Western Balkan countries.
There are also differences when it comes to the timing of expansion. According to the survey, the prevailing opinion in Austria, Denmark, Germany and France is that the EU should not admit any new member states at this time. In contrast, there is a clear willingness to expand in Romania and Poland. The Austrian population represents “the clearest opinion” in this regard: According to ECFR, the vast majority (53 percent) are in favor of the EU not accepting any new members. Only 28 percent in this country are in favor of expansion “at this point in time.”
Those surveyed view Turkey’s possible EU accession as even more critical than Ukraine’s accession to the EU. 51 percent of those surveyed in six countries reject Turkey’s accession to the EU. In Austria, the rejection of Turkish membership reached 72 percent and the approval rate fell to 12 percent, according to the cross-national opinion survey, which was carried out on behalf of the ECFR, YouGov and Datapraxis in six EU member states (Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland and Romania). In Austria, 1,018 people were surveyed from November 7th to 14th.
The Europeans are also reserved regarding Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia as future member states. Looking at the six countries surveyed as a whole, less than 30 percent of respondents support the admission of one of the above-mentioned countries to the EU. Support for Kosovo’s accession is lowest (20 percent). In Austria, 41 and 36 percent respectively are of the opinion that the Republic of Moldova and Montenegro “should not be allowed to join”.
