EU Public Support for Ukraine Accession Drops Below 50%
A Bertelsmann Foundation survey shows a majority of EU citizens now oppose Ukraine's fast-tracked membership as the bloc rejects a 2027 admission deadline.
Public support for Ukraine's fast-tracked accession into the European Union has fallen below 50% for the first time, according to a survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation. The study, which sampled 16,795 EU citizens and 2,153 Ukrainians, found that 53% of EU citizens now oppose the move, marking a significant decline from the high levels of support recorded in March 2022. While 83% of Ukrainians continue to support joining the bloc, EU citizens are increasingly concerned about expansion and the related economic costs.
This shift in public sentiment aligns with institutional resistance within the bloc. The EU recently rejected a demand from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to be admitted by January 2027. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kostyuk stated that such a deadline is not possible, emphasizing that Ukraine must meet all merit-based requirements for membership before accession can occur.
