According to a new survey, 52 percent of Austrians believe Ukraine should not join the EU.
Just 28 percent are in favor, the think tank European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) said in a press release on Tuesday.
In comparison, Europeans as a whole are “open” to EU expansion to include Ukraine, it was said.
➤ See more information: Orban against decision on Ukraine accession negotiations at EU summit
However, there are concerns that Ukraine's accession to the EU could pose economic and security risks to the community and its Member States – more so than the admission of candidate countries from the Western Balkans.
45 percent of people interviewed by ECFR in six EU countries believe that Ukraine's EU membership would have “negative effects” on EU security, while 25 percent expect “positive effects”. According to respondents, the accession of the Western Balkan countries presents comparatively fewer risks.
Fears of negative impact on security
In Austria, these concerns are even more pronounced: 62 percent of people believe that Ukraine's accession would have “negative effects” on the Union's security (compared to 17 percent who expect positive effects), and 50 percent share this assessment in the case of the Western Balkan countries.
The EU should not accept new members
There are also differences regarding the timing of expansion. In Austria, Denmark, Germany It is France According to the survey, the prevailing opinion is that the EU should not accept any new Member States at this time.
On the other hand, there is a clear desire for expansion in Romania and Poland. The Austrian population represents “the clearest opinion” in this regard: According to the 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 time.”
Austrians against Türkiye's accession
Respondents consider Ukraine's possible accession to the EU even more critical than Ukraine's accession to the EU Türkiye. 51 percent of respondents in six countries reject Turkey's EU membership.
In Austria Rejection of Turkey's membership reached 72 percent and the approval rate fell to 12 percent, according to the transnational opinion survey, carried out on behalf of ECFR, YouGov and Datapraxis in six EU member states (Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Poland It is Romania) was performed. In Austria, 1,018 people were interviewed from November 7th to 14th.
The Europeans are also standing Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia It is Serbia as reserved for 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 into the EU.
Membership support is lower Kosovo (20 percent). In Austria, 41 and 36 percent respectively are of the opinion that the Republic Moldavia It is Montenegro “should not be allowed to join”.