study
A narrow majority in Germany opposes Ukraine’s accession to the EU
Should Ukraine be admitted to the EU? In a survey, 52 percent of those surveyed said no. Photo
© Christoph Reichwein/dpa
Admit Ukraine to the EU? A slim majority of Germans are against it. German citizens are less skeptical when it comes to a common defense strategy in Europe.
A slim majority of Germans are against Ukraine joining European Union (EU). According to a recent survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation, 52 percent are against it. Across the EU, however, approval is 60 percent. Germany therefore plays a special role in the EU countries.
When it comes to the question of whether the EU needs a common defense policy, the opinion in Germany is almost identical to the EU-wide result. In Germany, 86 percent of respondents answered yes, and across the EU the figure is 87 percent. Spain (94 percent) and Italy (90) are significantly higher, while in France approval is lower at 81 percent.
“The upcoming elections in the USA and the EU are of crucial importance for Ukraine, but also for the European security order. If there is a change of government in the USA, Europe will face great security policy uncertainties,” said Isabell Hoffmann, expert of the Bertelsmann Foundation on the result. The large EU-wide majority in favor of a European defense policy supports the political decision-makers in the EU “who want to decisively address the urgently needed strengthening of their own security,” said Hoffmann.
Every three months, citizens of all EU member states are surveyed about European issues for the opinion research tool “eupinions”. Most recently in December 2023. The survey, with a sample size of 13,299 people, is representative of the EU as a whole as well as the member states Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and Spain.