According to a current survey by the Austrian Association for European Policy (ÖGfE), the EU mood in Austria is ambivalent against the background of the war in Ukraine and high inflation. There is a clear majority in favor of EU membership, but also an unclear opinion about more or less Europe, the company said. The majority in favor of EU membership is stable, but the number of supporters of independent membership at national level is increasing.
“While the vast majority firmly support EU membership, opinions are still divided on whether more joint, European or more national action is the right way to meet the challenges ahead,” Paul analyzed Schmidt, Secretary General of the Austrian Association for European Politics, the results of the survey according to the broadcast. The survey was conducted online by the market institute among 1,000 respondents across Austria from September 12 to 18; the maximum statistical fluctuation range is 3.16 percent.
65 percent are clearly in favor of EU membership
According to the survey, 65 percent of respondents are in favor of Austria remaining a member of the European Union. 27 percent are in favor of leaving the Union, eight percent answer “don’t know” or do not provide any information. In April, 67 percent were in favor of remaining in the EU and 25 percent in favor of leaving.
The war and persistently high inflation “are causing problems for many people in this country and are causing dissatisfaction, worry and distrust of politics. This is also noticeable in EU opinion, as the number of skeptics about Austria’s EU membership has been continuously rising for almost four years,” Schmidt said.
The number of people wanting to leave is increasing
Nevertheless, the vast majority cannot do anything if Austria leaves the EU. “A trend that has continued since Austria joined the EU – with small fluctuations,” said the ÖGFE Secretary General. In the long term, the number of EU supporters is around 70 percent, while the number in favor of leaving the EU is just under 22 percent. However, since December 2019, the percentage of people willing to leave has increased significantly.
Divided opinions on national action
According to the research, the population is divided when it comes to more collective action at European level. Currently, 47 percent say more joint action is needed, 43 percent – eight percent more than in May 2022 – want nation states to have more control. Eleven percent take no position on this question.
“The number of people in favor of individual nation states in the EU making more decisions themselves has increased in Austria over the past year,” Schmidt analyzes. This is “a result of political discourse. The added value of a common Europe is often discussed across the board in Sunday speeches, but at the same time there is a tendency to rail against ‘the EU’ with explicit national statements and emotions.”
Support for Ukraine remains strong
According to the survey, 52 percent of Austrians – about the same number as in April – consider EU support for Ukraine in the fight against the Russian attack important. 34 percent do not see it that way and, according to the survey, say they consider European support for Kiev “not at all” (15 percent) or “not at all” (24 percent) important. Nine percent make no comment.
Those surveyed are not sure whether the war against Ukraine will also have consequences for the future of EU enlargement. 28 percent say that promoting the EU’s expansion to include new member states has become more important as a result of the Russian attack. 24 percent take the opposite view, saying that it has made EU enlargement less important. 35 percent see neither positive nor negative effects on the expansion process. 14 percent cannot currently estimate this.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
