Most EU citizens oppose Ukraine accession – survey

More than half of the EU citizens oppose fast-tracked admission of Ukraine into the bloc, a Bertelsmann Foundation survey indicates The support for the potential accession of Ukraine into the bloc has fallen under 50% across the EU, with citizens growing more wary about further expansion of the union, a new survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation shows. The Germany-based foundation published its latest study exploring the sentiment within the bloc on Tuesday. The study was conducted through the foundation’s Eupinions public opinion research tool this June and sampled 16,795 people across all EU member states, as well as a further 2,153 people in Ukraine.The latest survey has shown the continuing decline of support for a fast-tracked accession of Ukraine into the bloc, which has fallen below 50% for the first time since the pollster began measuring the trend. The idea was overwhelmingly supported at the very beginning of the Ukraine conflict, with some 6% of respondents backing it in March 2022. It has declined over the years and now measures only 47%, with 53% opposed to Ukraine’s accession. The idea of EU enlargement through accepting any new members whatsoever has shown a similar tr...