EU retains high trust levels across the Eastern partner country, opinion polls find
Citizens across the Eastern Partnership region have a broadly positive image of the European Union, improving in most of them, with the EU seen as the most trusted international organisation across all six countries of the region. Citizens in all countries overwhelmingly feel that their country has good relations with the EU. These are just some of the results of the 2024 annual survey of opinion in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine – carried out by the EU NEIGHBOURS east programme.
The surveys were conducted in March 2024, with face-to-face interviews in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Moldova. In Ukraine, computer-assisted telephone interviews were carried out.
Armenia
Sixty-two per cent of Armenians trust the European Union, more than any other international institution and 19 points up on two years ago, while almost four out of five of those asked (78%) think relations between the EU and Armenia are good. This year’s survey also found that 80% of Armenians were aware of the EU’s financial support to their country (the highest since the surveys began in 2016), and that 48% thought it was effective.
Azerbaijan
Most Azerbaijani citizens – 65% – have a positive image of the European Union, four points up on last year and by far the highest number since the surveys began in 2016, when only 27% of those asked had a positive image of the EU. The poll also found that 78% of citizens felt their country had good relations with the EU, while the EU was by far the most trusted international institution, trusted by 60% of those asked (+16 on last year).
Georgia
An overwhelming majority of Georgians (87%) feel their country has good relations with the European Union, 12 points more than in 2016, when the surveys began. Awareness of the EU’s financial support for Georgia has also risen dramatically, standing at 85% this year compared to just 60% in 2016. Asked (in March) if they would vote to join the European Union if a referendum was held, 81% said yes, up seven points on the same question last year, while 77% felt disinformation was a threat to national security and 86% wanted greater EU support to fight it.
Republic of Moldova
More and more Moldovans have a positive image of the European Union (67%), and fewer have a negative image (6%) than at any time since 2016, according to the 2024 annual survey. More than two-thirds (67%) have a positive image of the EU (+15 on 2016), 76% say their country has good relations with the EU, and 59% were in favour of EU membership (+10 on last year).
Ukraine
Eighty-six per cent of Ukrainians say their country has good relations with the European Union, with 96% aware of EU support provided since the beginning of the war, according to the 2024 annual survey. The latest poll found 95% of those asked were aware that Ukraine has been granted EU candidate status, while the EU remained the most trusted international institution (63%).
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