Europeans open to Ukraine joining EU, survey shows before key summit

Polling reveals cool attitude to accession of Georgia and some western Balkan states, and opposition to admitting Turkey

• Opinion: Letting Ukraine into the EU will reinforce security

Europeans are generally open to the idea of Ukraine joining the EU, despite the costs and risks, but lukewarm at best about the bloc’s prospective enlargement to also take in Georgia and countries in the western Balkans, according to a survey.

The European Commission recommended last month that formal accession talks begin with Ukraine and Moldova. The EU’s 27 heads of government are due to discuss the proposal at a Brussels summit this week – although Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has repeatedly said he opposes opening negotiations with Kyiv.