The Russian public’s attitude towards the EU is generally positive with 56 per cent hoping for Russian membership.

Attitudes towards the EU and Europeans are largely positive amongst citizens of the largest former Soviet Republics.

The results of a recent survey carried out by Russian market research firm, Profi Online Research, reveal some interesting, if not wholly unexpected, findings regarding the perceptions people of the former Soviet Union have of the EU and Europeans.

The poll, which took in 15,000 respondents from Russia, the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Georgia, asked participants to list the characteristics they felt typified Europeans. ‘Friendly and curious workaholics, who are extremely principled and know exactly what they want’ is the picture that emerged. Overall, respondents had generally positive perceptions of Europeans, with relatively few opting to negatively characterise Europeans.

Perhaps more interesting were attitudes towards possible membership of the EU. Given the Ukraine’s almost 50-50 split between being pro-Russia and pro-Europe, it comes as little surprise that just over half of Ukrainian respondents wanted their country to join the EU. The Ukraine’s slight tilt towards Europe is well documented.

Yet only two percentage points below the Ukraine is Russia, with 56 per cent of respondents saying they wanted their country to join the EU. In addition to Russia not being a candidate for membership, it is also realistically precluded from accession for a variety of intractable historic, social, political and geographic reasons. In light of this and the resurgence of popular nationalism on the back of a new-found economic prosperity – that has only recently fizzled in the global downturn – it is worth exploring the reasons behind the desire of Russians to join the EU. It is no secret that relations between the EU and Russia have been strained, at least at the official level, over a range of practical and value-based issues.

Less unexpected is that the majority of Georgians favour EU membership, though it would be interesting to know whether the results would have been any different had the poll been conducted prior to last August’s Russian invasion. If anything, it is somewhat surprising that EU membership is less popular amongst Georgians than amongst Russians. Belarusian and Kazakh indifference towards EU membership is reflective of the political isolation of the former and the latter’s geographical and cultural detachment from Europe.

One of thorniest issues afflicting the states of the former Soviet Union, and an ongoing concern for the European Union, is the question of political legitimacy and democratic process. Across all five states, well over 30 per cent of respondents agreed to varying degrees with the commonly-held European perception that democracy does not exist in their country, with Russians and Ukrainians most likely to doubt the democratic credentials of their political system.

Ali Haider - Helsinki Times
Lehtikuva - AFP Photo - Alex Ander Nemenov