A new survey shows that Austrians’ support for the country’s EU membership has fallen to the second lowest level since it joined three decades ago. Only 60 percent of respondents believe that Austria should remain a member of the European Union
This was the result of a survey published on Saturday by the Austrian Association for European Politics (ÖGfE) – only in the summer of 2008 there was a lower value of 59 percent.
Supporters of leaving the EU are increasing
In June, 76 percent of respondents expressed support for EU membership, which ÖGfE Secretary General Paul Schmidt interpreted as a response to the FPÖ’s victory in the European elections. While at the time only 17 percent spoke out in favor of leaving the EU, that figure now stands at 25 percent. The share of those who did not provide information increased from seven to fifteen percent.
Support as low as in the month of joining
Support for EU membership now exactly corresponds to the value in the accession month of January 1995. In a total of 72 surveys since accession, such low support was only measured in April 2016 – two months before the Brexit referendum in Great Britain Britain. The historic low in 2008 (59 percent) coincided with a heated domestic political debate over the ratification of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty.
“The multitude of problems and the associated uncertainty do not stop at the domestic mood in the EU,” says Schmidt, commenting on the current survey results. “Not all population groups see themselves as winners of integration and concerns and dissatisfaction play a role in assessing the current situation in the EU.”
EU approval averages 70 percent
At the same time, Schmidt emphasized that support for EU membership averaged 70 percent over the past thirty years, while an average of 22 percent was in favor of leaving the EU. The highest level of support for EU membership was in November 1999 (82 percent), and the strongest desire to leave was recorded in June/July 2008 (33 percent).
Austrians increasingly see themselves as Europeans
Current research shows that identification with Europe has increased. 47 percent of respondents would now see themselves as “Austrians and Europeans”, 13 percentage points more than five years ago. Conversely, the share of those who consider themselves “only Austrian” fell by 18 percentage points to 43 percent. 73 percent think the introduction of the euro has had a positive effect on Austria, and 70 percent think the end of passport and border controls is positive for Austria; 52 percent have this opinion when it comes to the expansion of the EU.
EU vote in Austria “mixed”,
Nevertheless, 71 percent of respondents view the EU as “weak,” 61 percent view the EU as “unsafe” and 54 percent as “antisocial.” 55 percent are pessimistic about the future of the European Union. The EU mood in Austria is therefore “mixed”, according to Schmidt. “To change this for the better, we need a future story that conveys trust and creates trust, as well as a Europe that can address and implement this in the interests of the people, to increase security and prosperity,” the ÖGfE said. Secretary General.
Source: Krone
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