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Balkans: Austrians still negative towards enlargement
But number of those opposing accession strongly decreasing
16 April, 15:10
(ANSA) - BELGRADE - Austrians show still little support
towards the ambitions of the Western Balkan countries to join
the EU, but the number of those opposing the EU accession of the
Balkans has been decreasing in the last years, a survey of the
think tank Oesterreichische Gesellschaft fuer Europapolitik
(ÖGfE) shows today.
According to the survey, 31 percent of respondents support Bosnia and Herzegovina becoming an EU member, 36 percent oppose the accession, 24 percent are indifferent. The poll shows that 29% support the EU accession of Serbia, 45% are against, 15% are indifferent; 26 percent of Austrians support Macedonia entering the EU, 41 percent are against and 25 percent indifferent.
Similar perceptions are recorded towards Montenegro, with 27% in favor of the accession, 39% against, 24% indifferent. Regarding Albania and Kosovo, 23 percent are in favor of them joining the EU, respectively 45 and 46% against, 22 percent indifferent.
ÖGfE noted, however, that "Austrians have become slightly more supportive regarding a possible EU accession of Western Balkan countries while opposition towards some potential EU members has strongly decreased" in the last years. Indeed, the number of respondents opposing EU membership of Albania decreased by 23 percentage points since 2012. For Bosnia the decrease amounts to 22 pp, for Kosovo -20, for Serbia -17 since 2013.
The ÖGfE said that, according to the survey, only 23% of respondents wants Austria to actively promote the accession of the Western Balkan into the EU, while 58% do not think this should be a priority for Vienna. (ANSA).
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According to the survey, 31 percent of respondents support Bosnia and Herzegovina becoming an EU member, 36 percent oppose the accession, 24 percent are indifferent. The poll shows that 29% support the EU accession of Serbia, 45% are against, 15% are indifferent; 26 percent of Austrians support Macedonia entering the EU, 41 percent are against and 25 percent indifferent.
Similar perceptions are recorded towards Montenegro, with 27% in favor of the accession, 39% against, 24% indifferent. Regarding Albania and Kosovo, 23 percent are in favor of them joining the EU, respectively 45 and 46% against, 22 percent indifferent.
ÖGfE noted, however, that "Austrians have become slightly more supportive regarding a possible EU accession of Western Balkan countries while opposition towards some potential EU members has strongly decreased" in the last years. Indeed, the number of respondents opposing EU membership of Albania decreased by 23 percentage points since 2012. For Bosnia the decrease amounts to 22 pp, for Kosovo -20, for Serbia -17 since 2013.
The ÖGfE said that, according to the survey, only 23% of respondents wants Austria to actively promote the accession of the Western Balkan into the EU, while 58% do not think this should be a priority for Vienna. (ANSA).
