|
Turkey and Albania least
popular of EU hopefuls
Almost half of Europeans are against Turkey joining
the EU, according to a new survey published Friday
(28 July).
The eurobarometer survey indicates that while 39
percent of European citizens are in favour of Turkey
joining the EU, 48 percent are against the idea.
There were wide discrepancies between member states
with Austrians being the most hostile about Turks
joining (81%), according to AFP.
They were followed in their opposition by the
Germans and Luxembourgers at 69 percent, Cypriots at
68 percent and Greeks at 67 percent.
The phrasing of the question on Turkey showed that
respondents would be against the idea even if Ankara
fulfilled all the bloc's criteria for getting into
the club.
The Spanish, meanwhile, were the least opposed to
Turkish membership with only 23 percent of
respondents against the idea.
Europeans are more favourable to Balkan countries
joining the EU although they are not enthusiastic,
the survey reveals,
The poll found that 56 percent of respondents are in
favour of Croatia joining, 49 percent in support of
Macedonia, 48 percent for Bosnia and 47 percent for
Serbia.
However, only 41 percent of respondents said they
are in favour of Albania joining the EU - while a
majority of 44 percent is against Tirana's
accession.
More broadly, only 45 percent of Europeans support
further enlargement of the bloc while 42 percent
oppose it.
"European Union citizens do not perceive enlargement
as a win-win situation; while they consider that the
2004 enlargement process benefits the new member
states, they are more concerned about the problems
that could arise," the researchers concluded.
"Furthermore they consider future accessions as
primarily in the interest of the
candidate and potential countries and fear the
consequences for the economic situation of their own
country."
EU expansion records more supporters than opponents
in Greece, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Portugal,
Ireland and the UK.
But at the other end of the spectrum, more than 60
percent of the German, Luxembourg, French, Austrian
and Finnish interviewees disapprove of the idea.
euobserver com
Top |
® 