Austria says record drop in support for the country's EU membership

In Austria, the share of the population supporting the country's membership in the European Union (EU) has fallen to a record low of 60% in nearly 30 years. The data on Dec. 28 comes from a survey by the Austrian Society for European Policy(ÖGfE).

"Currently, 6 out of 10 respondents say Austria should remain a member of the EU, a quarter favor leaving the EU, and 15% are unsure of their judgment or do not give an answer," the report said.

A lower figure after Austria's accession to the EU in 1995 was recorded only in the summer of 2008, when only 59% approved of such a union. Then the number of opponents of being in the community coincided with a heated debate on the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty by the EU.

Back in June 2024, Austria's membership in the EU was positively assessed by 76% of respondents, while only 17% of respondents were in favor of leaving the community. According to the new data, this figure is already 25%. Pessimistic sentiments about the future within the EU are experienced by 55% of the survey participants, and only 39% are positively inclined.

"71% of respondents see the EU as "weak", 61% see it as "insecure" and 54% see it as "anti-social". Opinions are divided on whether the EU is democratic," the poll said.

The poll was conducted online from December 2 to 5, 1000 people took part in it.

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Earlier, December 25, it was reported that in Slovakia in the first quarter of 2025 will begin collecting signatures for the country's exit from the EU and NATO. "Izvestia" was told about it by public figure Matus Alexa, founder of the civil association "Motorcyclists of Slovakia - Brother for Brother", which is engaged in the preparation of the petition. He noted that the country refuses to cooperate with fascism glorified by the European Union. The previous proposal of the movement in favor of the abolition of anti-Russian sanctions has already gained more than 360 thousand signatures.

Before that, on December 19, the German party "Alternative for Germany" (AdG) in the framework of the election program called for the withdrawal of Germany from the European Union. The candidate for chancellor from AdG Alice Weidel criticized the EU for the destruction of the country's automotive industry and proposed to turn the bloc into a free trade zone.