Study before the election date

This is what Austrians think about EU membership

A majority of Austrians have a positive attitude towards EU membership.

(Bild: AP)

Just under two months before the EU elections, the Linz-based IMAS Institute published the results of a study on the subject on Friday. Even if positive attitudes clearly predominate among Austrians, a downward trend is nevertheless discernible.

For more than half of the population, Austria's membership of the European Union (EU) is important. 45 percent are also certain that membership would bring advantages rather than disadvantages. However, around 22 percent would be in favor of leaving. 

Lack of a sense of identity
However, 29 years after Austria joined the EU, not even half of the population feels fully European today, with only 47% feeling this way. In 2019, this figure was 62%. Since then, the feeling of belonging has been dwindling, according to IMAS. 13% do not see themselves as Europeans, while 40% are undecided.

The importance of EU membership is also rated lower this year than in 2022. Even though 54% of respondents currently say that membership is very or fairly important, the figure five years ago was 60%.

The proportion of those who associate more advantages than disadvantages with membership also fell slightly by three percentage points during this period. The 45% who are now in favor of accession are offset by 28% of skeptics. They believe that the disadvantages would dominate. 22% of respondents would even support leaving the EU, 24% are undecided and 53% want to stay in.