Portuguese most pro-EU, favour Ukraine accession – poll

6 months ago 28

Portugal is one the most pro-EU countries, mainly supporting Ukraine’s accession to the EU bloc and advocating more decisions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the European Policy Barometer reads.

The study for the Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation in early 2024 through 1,107 interviews with residents of mainland Portugal aged 18 or over was published on Wednesday, on the eve of Europe Day.

The percentage of respondents who say that Portugal has benefited from joining the EU has reached an “all-time high,” with more than 90%. Support for the euro, which has been asked since 2009, is confirmed by more than 70%.

Regarding the image of the EU institutions, the downward trend in ratings between 2000 and the years of the economic crisis has been reversed, and there is now a positive image (52.3%) of the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Central Bank.

Portugal (with an average of 56.3% between 2000 and 2023) also shows trust in the institutions above the EU average (50.7%), which, according to the study, reflects the country’s position among the most pro-EU states.

“Trust in European political institutions is far higher than trust in national institutions, such as parliament or government,” says the study, which shows that around one in three respondents say they trust the national level, compared to around two in three who express trust in the EU Parliament and the Commission.

Women, respondents aged 55 and over and those with a higher education tend to have a more positive image of the European institutions and trust them more.

However, when it comes to the institutions’ response to challenges, the response is more negative, with greater dissatisfaction shown about the reduction of poverty and inequalities, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, “issues on which less than a third say they are satisfied” with the Community’s response.

Dissatisfaction was highest among younger people, those with less education and those on the ideological right.

Respondents favoured more European decision-making on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, immigration from third countries, climate change and the war in Ukraine, while national decision-making was preferred on issues such as poverty and inequality.

Continued membership of the 27 is supported by 44.5% of respondents and opposed by 38.8%, with Ukraine (58%) attracting the most support.

More than 83% say that the EU should have the right to expel members whose governments regularly fail to respect democratic principles, and almost half believe that there are currently countries that do not respect these principles (48.2%), namely Hungary, regarding democratic values and human rights.

In this context, more than 90% of respondents believe that granting funds should be conditional on respect for the rule of law and democratic principles.

In the event of a hypothetical referendum tomorrow on Portugal’s accession to the EU, 84.5% would vote in favour.

(Paula Lagarto | Lusa.pt)