The EU is facing an internal mutiny over plans to expand its borders, with public opinion split on whether new nations should be added to the 27-strong bloc.
Polling has found there is no majority support for adding newer member states in some of the bloc’s oldest constituents, including Germany and France.
Residents of those founding members appear generally opposed to the potential accession of three countries tipped to join – Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro – according to a survey of six EU by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).
The ECFR found Austrian and Danish residents were also within that camp ahead of crunch talks discussing the eventual membership of the Balkan nations.
But it uncovered a significant divide between the anti-expansionist Europeans and their counterparts in newer member states, who appear more welcoming of the prospect.
Pollsters asked locals in Romania, Poland, Denmark, France, Germany and Australia whether they felt the EU should (or shouldn’t) be looking to add new members.
Respondents were able to say whether they felt the bloc should not add new nations, whether they didn’t know, felt indifferent, or would favour additional members.
The survey found widespread support for enlargement in Poland and Romania, member states that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007, respectively.
Romania was the most pro-expansion among the countries polled, with 51 per cent of people stating the bloc should look to add new members to 47 per cent who believed it should not.
Poland was a close second, with 47 per cent in favour of expansion and 19 per cent opposed to new additions.
In Denmark, France, Germany and Austria, a minority – 29, 27, 28 and 28 per cent of people, respectively – said they would welcome expansion, while the majority – 37, 44, 50 and 53 per cent – said they would not.
The overall result was that a slim majority of people favoured inducting new countries, with 35 per cent in support and 37 opposed, but including the indifferent and undecided responses, there was no clear winning opinion.
Most of those opposed to the prospective new entrants were especially concerned about Ukraine, with many fearing Kyiv’s inclusion would make the continent less safe.
EU leaders will meet to discuss the Balkan nations’ possible accession in an enlargement summit in Brussels on Wednesday, December 13.
Decisions involving their potential future roles in the bloc will follow later this week.
