DW-Trend: 58% Ukrainians Support Joining the EU

KYIV, Ukraine, November 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The number of Ukrainians in favor of their country joining the EU has increased by six percent, informs Deutsche Welle. The poll, conducted by the DW-Trend, shows that 58 percent of the polled Ukrainians support eventual membership of their country in the EU. Approximately 31 percent of Ukrainians does not support the EU membership, while 37 percent of the polled citizens approve of the EU membership within the next five years.

The research shows that traditionally pro-Russian residents of the eastern and southern Ukrainian cities support European integration - half of the polled in the region supported Ukraine's eventual EU membership. Western and central regions of Ukraine were traditionally more pro-European, showing that 69 percent of the residents supported eventual EU membership for Ukraine.

Youth is more supportive of the European integration of their country, as 65 percent of 18-29-year-old poll participants supported EU membership. Yet, more than half of the 50-60-year-old polled residents chose to answer yes to eventual EU membership for Ukraine, informs dw.de.

The poll also involved questions whether the polled residents were interested in the EU as a tourist destination. About 70 percent of the participants answered yes and nearly half of all respondents plan to visit the EU more, should the visa regime be simplified.

The poll has been conducted in November 2013 by the Ukrainian office of the international research agency IFAK Institut GmbH & Co. The research involved one thousand 18 to 65-year-old residents of Ukrainian cities with population over 50,000.

Just in October 2013, GfK Ukraine conducted a public opinion research as to whether the population of the country supports the upcoming signing of the Association Agreement with the EU. 45% of Ukrainians reported their support of the signing of the document. Notably, GfK highlights that more people support European integration of Ukraine among those with higher education. The poll was conducted on October 2-15, 2013.