EU Skepticism in Austria Underpinned
Austrians continue to be among the biggest EU skeptics in Europe. Only 35 percent regard the EU as a whole as "positive," while the EU average is 45 percent. Just under a third of respondents in Austria are in favor of EU enlargement, while across Europe half are in favor. However, just under one-third of Austrian respondents disapprove of the EU as a whole, an increase of four percentage points compared with the previous Eurobarometer. On average in Europe, only 18 percent feel this negatively about the Union. Austrian respondents are particularly skeptical about close military cooperation within the EU. Only 56 percent are in favor of a common EU security and defense policy, compared with 77 percent across Europe. Interestingly, however, there is a high willingness to support Ukraine not only humanitarian and financially. Around two-thirds of Europeans and just under half of Austrians surveyed are in favor of accession candidate status for Ukraine. The survey, entitled ...
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