Data from a poll conducted by TNS Sofres was published in The Guardian newspaper, with a translation of the article posted on InoPressa.ru. Supporters of the campaign for Ukraine's accession to the EU will use the poll results to pressure European leaders into setting a date for Kyiv to start EU accession negotiations.
“The results of this poll are very important. There has been much debate about whether to accept Ukraine into the EU, but until recently no one asked what Europeans themselves thought about it,” said Lorin Dondi, press secretary for the Yes group, which advocates for the earliest possible start of negotiations on Ukraine's membership. According to Dondi, Ukraine, the largest European country with a population of 48 million, cannot be denied a chance to join the European Union.
The Poles are the most supportive of Ukraine's efforts to join the EU – 77% in favor and only 12% against. 49% of Britons support Ukraine's accession to the EU, while 27% do not. The French are also favorably disposed to the idea: 58% for, 37% against. The Germans are more reserved: 53% and 41% respectively.
Attitudes toward the idea of accepting Turkey into the EU are exactly the opposite. The French are negative (59% against and 37% for), and the Germans share the same opinion (60% and 36%). A majority of Poles (55%) support Turkey's accession to the European Union. In the UK, opinions on this matter were evenly split.
Groups supporting Ukraine's accession to the EU will avoid using poll data concerning Turkey, for fear of being accused of racism. “People who voted against Turkey's EU accession and at the same time for Ukraine's accession believe that the latter is a European country, while Turkey lies in a different geographical area,” said Emmanuel Rivière of TNS Sofres. Recall that negotiations on Turkey's EU accession will begin on October 3.