Of all members

EU skepticism highest in Austria

Austrians are particularly skeptical about the EU.

(Bild: doganmesut - stock.adobe.com)

Compared to the other member states, our compatriots are particularly skeptical about the EU, as the Eurobarometer study presented on Wednesday shows. According to the study, only 42 percent rate membership of the Union positively, while 22 percent view it negatively.

This is the lowest and highest figure of all 27 EU member states. Of all EU citizens surveyed, 61% see their country's membership as a good thing.

Italy and the Czech Republic are hot on Austria's heels
The EU approval ratings in Italy (43%) and the Czech Republic (44%) are only slightly better than in Austria. Approval is highest in Luxembourg at 86%. As many as 55% of Austrians surveyed believe that EU membership has benefited the country overall - again the lowest figure in Europe. In Lithuania, Ireland, Luxembourg and Malta, the figure was over 90 percent in each case.

Nevertheless, Austrians feel the effects of the decisions made in Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxembourg. Almost three quarters of respondents in this country stated that the EU influences their everyday lives. In the EU as a whole, 70 percent felt this way.

Hope for higher turnout in next EU elections
The EU Parliament survey was published exactly six months to the day before the European elections. The likelihood of voting has increased compared to the last elections - both in the EU and in Austria. The probable turnout is calculated at 68% and 66% respectively. This corresponds to the proportion of respondents who rate their personal probability of voting as seven or higher on a scale of one to ten. In the last EU election in 2019, voter turnout in Austria was just under 60%.

Only 38% want a stronger role for the EU Parliament 
However, a higher voter turnout does not mean that voters want the EU Parliament to play a stronger role. In Austria, only 38% of respondents do, compared to 39% who would like the European Parliament to play a less important role. Respondents in Estonia, Denmark and the Czech Republic were even more negative. In Cyprus, on the other hand, 86% wanted the European Parliament to play a greater role.

The island state in the Mediterranean also had the highest score (77%) when asked whether their own standard of living had deteriorated and whether they expected it to fall further. In Austria, 44% of respondents answered this question in the affirmative.

A total of 26,523 people over the age of 15 were interviewed for this Eurobarometer survey throughout the EU.