Ukraine Closer to Europe than Turkey
Europe’s media announced yesterday results of the opinion polls as to what countries could be tipped as favorites to join the EU. In many ways, the polls held in six leading countries of the European Union manifested sensational data. It turned out that the EU residents would prefer Ukraine to Turkey as the EU member. Moreover, Russia follows Ukraine in the list of Europe’s frontrunners.
The results of opinion polls carried out by the French TNS Sofres were published in the U.K. Guardian, French Figaro and German Die Welt. The polls, held from February 24 to March 8, covered six largest countries of the EU, including Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Spain and Poland. The survey was ordered by the Ukrainian YES public association (Yalta European Strategy), which creation had been inspired by Viktor Pinchuk, Ukrainian oligarch and the son-in-law of Leonid Kuchma, former president of Ukraine.
The respondents were offered a number of questions about their attitude to the possible membership of Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and Morocco. In France, 58 percent of votes support Ukrainian membership vs. 37 percent against. German votes oppose it by 53 percent vs. 41 percent for membership. Italy favors Ukraine by 62 percent to 23 percent. Poland backs it up by 77 percent vs. 12 percent. Spain is for Ukraine by 60 percent to 11 percent. The U.K. votes are in favor of Ukrainian membership by 49 percent to 27 percent against it. In the six countries of Europe, 55 percent of respondents support Ukraine and 31 percent oppose it, on aggregate.
Russia was the second darling in the EU polls. Its membership is supported by 45 percent in France (vs. 51 percent against), 45 percent in Germany (52 percent), 62 percent in Italy (26 percent), 46 percent in Poland (39 percent), 59 percent in Spain (17 percent) and 44 percent in the U.K. (35 percent). On average, Russia is backed up by 50 percent of respondents and opposed by 38 percent. Only Germany records Russia as its favorite, obviously preferring it to Ukraine and Turkey.
The polls’ findings manifest rather cool attitude of the united Europe to Turkey, which membership process starts this October 5. According to the polls, Turkey is favored by 45 percent of respondents, leaving only Morocco behind. Two traditional movers of the European integration, France and Germany votes by 59 percent and 60 percent against Turkey respectively.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 25, 2005
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