Public attitudes have undergone a very large change unfavorable to Ukraine since 2023.

Poland’s Public Opinion Research Center (CBOS) released a survey showing that the proportion of Poles opposed to Ukraine joining the European Union (EU) has risen to a record 40 percent.

CBOS said public attitudes had undergone a “very large change unfavorable to Ukraine” since its previous survey in 2023, although supporters of Ukraine’s accession still outnumbered opponents.

Opposition to Ukraine’s EU membership rose from 17 percent in 2023 to 40 percent this year, while the proportion favoring Ukraine’s accession as soon as possible fell from 18 percent to 9 percent.

Poland introduced special measures following the escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, giving eligible Ukrainians access to employment, public healthcare and social benefits.

Public support for Ukrainian refugees has since declined. Another CBOS poll released on July 17 showed that 52 percent of respondents opposed accepting more Ukrainian refugees, compared with 42 percent who were in favor. It marked the first time opposition had outweighed support since the survey began.

The Process of Ukraine’s Accession to the EU

Ukraine’s aspiration to join the European Union dates back to the years following its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, but it became a central pillar of the country’s foreign policy after the 2014 uprising, which was triggered in part by then-President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision to suspend preparations for an Association Agreement with the EU.

Russia’s special military operation in February 2022 accelerated Kiev’s push for EU membership. Four days after the Russian campaign began, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed Ukraine’s formal application to join the bloc.

In June 2022, the European Council granted Ukraine candidate status, describing the move as recognition of the country’s European aspirations while emphasizing that accession would depend on meeting the EU’s political, economic, and legal criteria.

The European Commission has since monitored Ukraine’s progress on reforms in areas including the rule of law, judicial independence, anti-corruption measures and public administration.

The European Union formally opened accession negotiations with Ukraine in June 2024, marking a significant milestone in the enlargement process.

Membership talks are divided into negotiating chapters covering the full body of EU law, known as the acquis communautaire, which candidate countries must adopt before joining the bloc.

Although there is no fixed timetable for accession, EU officials have repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s membership will depend on the pace of reforms and unanimous approval by all member states, making the process both politically and technically demanding.

teleSUR/ JF

Sources: Xinhua – EFE – AP – EU