Most Ukrainians strongly support EU membership and reforms to join, KIIS poll results
Ukrainians overwhelmingly are in favor of joining the European Union, with a slim majority considering the issue “very important”, according to a new poll published by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on Oct. 26.
77% of respondents polled support Ukraine’s membership bid for the EU, and 51% rated it as “very important” for Ukraine. At the same time, a total of 60% of respondents insist that Ukraine should stand up for its own interests even while pursuing EU membership — understanding that this might result in a delayed entry. Only 27% of respondents believe that Ukraine should meet all EU requirements as quickly as possible, in order to expedite the process.
Overall, Ukrainians are cautious in their assessment of the country's readiness for membership. Only 22% believe that Ukraine is fully prepared to join the EU, while 43% diplomatically suggest the need for reforms. And 25% believe that Ukraine is not ready.
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Some 73% of respondents receive information on a regular basis (at least once a week) about EU efforts to support Ukraine during the ongoing war. Although 75% acknowledge the usefulness of the assistance, only 34% consider it sufficient, while another 56% judge Brussels’ support for Ukraine to be insufficient.
The survey, commissioned by the EU Advisory Mission to Ukraine, was conducted through face-to-face interviews from Sept. 4 to 20. A total of 2,005 Ukrainians were interviewed in all regions except the Russian-occupied territories.
Read also: European Council president outlines conditions for Ukraine's potential EU membership by 2030
Ukraine’s path to EU membership: What we know
Just four days after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, on Feb. 28, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed an application for Ukraine to join the European Union.
On June 17, 2022, the European Commission recommended granting Ukraine EU candidate status and set seven conditions for the start of accession negotiations:
· Reforming the Constitutional Court
· Continuation of overall judicial reform
· Strengthening the fight against corruption, including appointing a new head for the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office’s (SAPO)
· Concrete steps to combat money laundering
· Implementing the so-called “anti-oligarch” laws
· Harmonization of audiovisual legislation with European legislation
· Amending legislation on national minorities
Read also: EU working on 12th sanctions package against Russia — report
At a summit on June 23, 2022, EU leaders supported granting candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova. The European Council called on the European Commission to report on the progress of candidate countries in meeting the conditions outlined in their membership applications, and pledged to decide on further steps “as soon as all these conditions are fully met.”
In early March 2023, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that Ukraine had fulfilled all seven EU recommendations. According to him, Kyiv expects a political decision to start accession negotiations later this year.
European Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius declared on Aug. 21 that “Ukraine’s progress towards meeting the conditions for EU accession is impressive.” He added that the reforms already undertaken, particularly in the judicial system and media freedom, are “crucial, almost fundamental, like the glue that binds the EU.”
David Arakhamia, the leader of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, claimed that Ukraine's parliament has passed 99.9% of the legislation required by the EU to begin accession negotiations.
Bloomberg, citing its own sources, reported that the European Commission would recommend starting substantive accession talks with Ukraine.
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