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Update: Poll - more than half of Ukrainians support European Union membership

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May 12, 2010, 11:04 a.m. | Ukraine — by Interfax-Ukraine
Ukrainians older than 16 - 53% - would like their country to join the European Union in the future, a poll of 1,000 respondents conducted by GfK Ukraine on April 1-16, 2010 has found. Citizens aged between 20-39 and residents of the central and western regions of the state appeared to be the strongest supporters of joining the EU, according to the results of the poll. The majority of respondents over 16 years old, or 53%, support Ukraine's entering the EU, only a quarter of Ukrainians opposed entering the EU, and 21% of respondents did not give an answer.

Citizens aged between 20-39 were most enthusiastic about the idea: over 60% out of this age group support it. Many senior citizens opposed Ukraine's entering the EU: 31% of respondents aged between 50-59 and 33% of respondents over 60 years old said no to the possibility of joining the EU.

As for regional differences, citizens of the central and western regions and Kyiv residents support Ukraine's membership of the EU (69%, 61%, and 60% of respondents in these regions respectively). Some citizens in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine are strongly opposed (35% and 31% of respondents in these regions respectively).

"The fact that the majority of Ukrainians support Ukraine's joining the EU demonstrates that the new government's priority of European integration coincides with the will of the voters," said Hlib Vyshlinsky, the deputy director of GfK Ukraine.

The company polled 1,000 respondents over 16 years old. The selection of the respondents was representational for the population of Ukraine according to sex, age, citizenship and residential area size. The poll was conducted by personal interview.
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Anonymous May 12, 2010, 11:46 a.m.    

Of course they would, imagine having the euro as your currency, you will not need NBU, and go on a spending spree knowing that people in France , Germany and Austria will pick up the tab. Thats what Greece has been doing. Now Ukraine will find France, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, opposed to its entry to Euro. So it will be 100 years before Ukraine dreams will come true.

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Anonymous May 12, 2010, 12:46 p.m.    

what's wrong with Sweden? Sweden was the first old-member of EU to support Ukraine's European aspirations by initiating the Eastern Partnership! :D

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Anonymous May 12, 2010, 1:45 p.m.    

Sweden, an old member of EU?

They only joined in 1995, they are still quite new. :)

And Ukraine as it is now has zero chance to ever to get into the EU. What exactly has Ukraine to offer the EU?

Corruption, no rule of law, a GDP per capita lower than namibia, enviromental catastropic regions and potential frictions with russia.

Solve these issues and then there is a chance.

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Anonymous May 12, 2010, 2:01 p.m.    

What did Romania and Bulgaria have to offer to the EU. I can't think of anything except for the increase of gypsies in Europe.

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Anonymous May 12, 2010, 10:22 p.m.    

Both countries are much more civilised than the Ukraine.

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Anonymous May 13, 2010, 7:05 a.m.    

And Ukraine is much more civilized then Russia, hence no talk ever about Russian membership. The mafia in the Kremlin would be kicked out.

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Anonymous May 12, 2010, 10:36 p.m.    

They made mistake taking in Romania and Bulgaria but they might be kicked out now :)

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Anonymous May 12, 2010, 12:03 p.m.    

While Yanokovych is President, Ukraine will Not joing the EU

He is too afraid for this to happen. The President and the Government now have freedom to do whatever they want. This would not be possible inside the EU.

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Anonymous May 12, 2010, 1:10 p.m.    

One must be very wary what they wish for.

Opinion polls are an inaccurate way of attesting to the public's true attitudes.

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Anonymous May 12, 2010, 3:09 p.m.    

Ukraine will not join the EU in the next decade. Association agreements, trade agreements and maybe even visa free travel, yes. Full EU membership No.

2020 at the earliest for full membership regardless, as the EU simply does not move that fast

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Anonymous May 12, 2010, 10:34 p.m.    

Eu wont exist in 10 years.

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