More European Union citizens are against Turkey’s entry into the 25-nation bloc than in favor, with Austrians, Germans and Cypriots leading the opposition, a public opinion poll showed on Friday.
About 48 percent of adults in the EU oppose the Muslim country’s accession, even once it fulfils all conditions set by the EU, while 39 percent back its entry, said the Eurobarometer poll, published by the European Commission.
Turkey started entry talks last year along with the former Yugoslav republic of Croatia, but many diplomats expect it may join the bloc in 10 years at the earliest, if at all. Continued public opposition could jeopardize the prospect, analysts say.
The poll showed the majority of the EU population backed Croatia’s entry into the bloc -- 56 percent in favor and 30 percent against -- and a relative majority supported accession of other Western Balkan countries, except for Albania.
Some 44 percent of EU citizens oppose the entry of the impoverished Albania, which was isolated from Europe for decades by an isolationist brand of communism.
Enlargement fatigue
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as Serbia and Montenegro have nearly 50 percent backers and 36-39 percent opponents. EU leaders have given those countries membership prospects, but they still face a long way before they start entry negotiations.
The poll showed Turkey’s EU accession would be opposed by 81 percent of Austrians, 69 percent of Germans and 68 percent of Cypriots. Its entry is backed in Sweden, the Netherlands and Poland most.
The poll revealed certain enlargement fatigue in many of the “old” 15 EU members which followed the bloc’s expansion into ex-communist eastern Europe in 2004 to take in 10 newcomers.
It showed people generally believed enlargement enriches Europe’s cultural diversity, promotes democracy and helps ensure peace and stability.
But many people in the “old” member states feared loss of jobs to new member states and settlement of low-paid workers from future member states.
The perceived negative impact of the EU’s last enlargement and prospect for Turkey’s membership played a role in the rejection of the bloc’s constitution in referendums in France and the Netherlands last year.
The poll showed that more than two-thirds of EU population felt ill-informed about enlargement.
