A Bertelsmann Foundation survey indicates that a majority of respondents across the bloc oppose granting Kiev an accelerated path to accession
Published 13 Oct, 2026 21:09
| Updated 14 Oct, 2026 05:53
© Getty Images / Anadolu Agency / Metin Aktas
More than half of EU citizens oppose fast-tracking Ukraine’s accession to the bloc, according to a new survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation.
The German-based foundation published its latest study exploring sentiment within the bloc on Tuesday. The study was conducted through the foundation’s Eupinions public opinion research tool this June and sampled 16,795 people across all EU member states and 2,153 people in Ukraine.
The survey shows a continuing decline in support for fast-track accession of Ukraine into the bloc, which has fallen below 50% for the first time since the pollster began measuring the trend. The idea was overwhelmingly supported at the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in March 2022. It has declined over the years and is now just 47%, with 53% opposed.
The idea of EU expansion in general has shown a similar trend, declining from 73% support in March 2022 to just 48% now. In contrast, the idea of joining the EU remains very popular in Ukraine, with 83% backing it, and the same percentage supporting the general idea of EU expansion, the poll suggests.
Only 36% of Europeans believe Ukrainian accession would create more economic opportunities, compared with 74% of Ukrainians who believe so. Around 38% of EU citizens expressed readiness to endure “short-term economic costs” for their countries for the sake of Ukrainian accession; 67% of Ukrainians said they would accept hardships to join the bloc.
While joining the EU has been a key talking point for pro-Western Ukrainian politicians for decades, the process gained momentum after the escalation of the conflict with Russia. The bloc, however, has been reluctant to grant Kiev exemptions to facilitate accession.
Earlier this month, the EU rejected Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s demand that Ukraine be admitted by January 2027. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said the deadline is not possible, and that Kiev must meet all the requirements for “merit-based” membership.