Turkey has become the EU's most unwanted country! Survey reveals

In a public opinion poll conducted in six EU member states for the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), while significant support was expressed for the candidacies of Ukraine and, to a lesser extent, Moldova and Montenegro, deep economic and security concerns were also voiced.

However, alongside widespread opposition to Turkey's potential membership in particular, a distinct coldness was measured toward the prospect of Albania, Bosnia, Georgia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia joining the union.

UKRAINE'S EU MEMBERSHIP

According to the survey, the highest support for Ukraine's membership came from Denmark at 50 percent and Poland at 47 percent; opinions are roughly divided in Romania (32 percent support, 29 percent against), Germany (37 percent support, 39 percent against), and France (29 percent support, 35 percent against). Austria, meanwhile, opposes it with a rate of 52 percent.

SECURITY AND COST CONCERNS

However, while 45 percent of participants worry that Ukraine's membership would negatively affect the EU's security, 25 percent think it would increase it, and 39 percent believe that Kyiv's accession would negatively impact their country's security.

According to the report in T24; many Europeans do not think that Ukraine's membership would have an economic benefit. While 43 percent of participants in Poland and 37 percent in Romania see a positive impact for the EU economy, 54 percent in Denmark and 46 percent in Austria foresee a cost.

There were also concerns regarding the impact of enlargement on the EU's political power in the world. Poland and Denmark are the most optimistic countries in this regard, with 43 percent and 35 percent of citizens, respectively, believing that Ukraine's accession would have a positive impact.

While the most common view in Austria (42 percent) and Germany (32 percent) is that Ukrainian membership would reduce the EU's political power in the world, participants in France and Romania showed a more balanced distribution.

DIVISION ON ENLARGEMENT

The ECFR identified a clear division between "old" and "new" EU member states regarding the principle of enlargement. Austria with 53 percent, Germany with 50 percent, and France with 44 percent were the countries with the highest rates of those who think the EU should not accept new members.

In contrast, a majority in Romania (51 percent) and a majority in Poland (48 percent) believe that the EU should pursue enlargement.

TURKEY IS UNWANTED WITH "51 PERCENT"

While 51 percent of those who participated in the survey oppose the idea of Turkey joining the EU, less than one in every five participants supports making progress on Turkey's membership.

Europeans also look coldly upon the membership of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia, with collective support for the membership of these eight countries remaining below 30 percent.

News Source: 12punto