More than half of European Union citizens support the bloc’s enlargement, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey, with northern European countries showing the highest approval and central regions expressing the most skepticism.
The poll reveals that 56% of EU citizens favor admitting new member states. Sweden (79%), Denmark (75%), and Lithuania (74%) show the strongest support, while Austria (45%), Czechia (43%), and France (43%) are the least enthusiastic.
Younger Europeans are particularly supportive — 67% of respondents aged 15–24 and 63% of those aged 25–39 back EU enlargement.
“Support mainly comes from young and educated individuals, which is not surprising. They tend to understand and endorse such initiatives,” said Corina Stratulat, Deputy Director of the European Policy Centre.
The survey also highlights that 37% of respondents believe enlargement would boost the EU’s global influence, another 37% think it would strengthen the single market, while 30% hope it would enhance solidarity among member states. Stratulat emphasized that policymakers should seize this momentum to prepare the ground for welcoming new members.
However, concerns persist. 40% of respondents worry about uncontrolled immigration, 39% fear corruption and crime, and 37% point to the potential financial burden on taxpayers.
For a successful enlargement, 44% of EU citizens stress the need to ensure rule of law and anti-corruption safeguards, while 38% call for stronger commitments from candidate countries to implement EU reforms. The survey further suggests tightening accession criteria to guarantee that future members meet the Union’s standards.
