Should Ukraine join European Union?

Introduction

Pulse of Europe: How Do Europeans View Ukraine’s Prospects for EU Membership?

The latest Polling Europe survey, conducted in collaboration with OpinionWay Central Eastern Europe, shows that 49% of EU residents support Ukraine joining the European Union. At the same time, European public opinion remains divided: 39% of respondents oppose Ukraine’s EU membership or believe that Ukraine is not ready for full membership at this stage. 12% have no opinion on the matter.

Almost Half of Europeans Support Ukraine’s EU Membership

Among the 49% of respondents who support Ukraine’s EU membership:

• 19% believe that Ukraine should be admitted to the EU as soon as possible.,
• 30% support Ukraine’s EU membership, but only after all necessary reforms have been implemented.

In Poland, support for Ukraine’s EU membership is at an average level

In Poland, 42% of respondents support Ukraine joining the European Union. Among them, 8% would like this to happen as soon as possible, while 34% believe that Ukraine should join the EU after carrying out the necessary reforms. At the same time, 49% of Poles oppose Ukraine joining the EU or believe that full membership should be preceded by a period during which Ukraine would have the status of an associated country.

Spain and Italy Most Supportive of Ukraine’s EU Membership

Support for Ukraine’s EU membership varies significantly across countries. The highest level of support was recorded in Spain, where 65% of respondents favour Ukraine joining the EU. In Italy, support stands at 52%. In France and Germany, the share of supporters is lower, at 41% in both countries. With support at 42%, Poland’s result is therefore very close to those recorded in these two major EU countries.

European Public Opinion Remains Divided

The survey shows that Europeans do not have a clear-cut view of Ukraine’s prospects for EU membership. 49% of respondents support such a scenario, while 39% oppose it or believe that now is not the right time for full EU membership. At the same time, a significant share of those supporting Ukraine’s membership – 30% of all respondents – believe it should only take place after the necessary reforms have been implemented. This suggests that for many Europeans, support for Ukraine’s European perspective goes hand in hand with the expectation that certain conditions should be met before the country joins the EU.