(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Half of people in Russia would agree with their country’s potential accession to the European Union (EU), according to a poll by Yury Levada Analytical Center. 50 per cent of respondents think the country should enter the EU, down nine points since December 2004.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Half of people in Russia would agree with their country’s potential accession to the European Union (EU), according to a poll by Yury Levada Analytical Center. 50 per cent of respondents think the country should enter the EU, down nine points since December 2004.
The EU is Russia’s largest trading partner. Europe is highly dependent on Russian natural gas.
The United Nations (UN) recently approved new sanctions against Iran for its alleged pursuit of a nuclear weapon. Russia supported the move. Days later, the United States and the EU issued new and more aggressive sanctions against Iran, angering Russia.
On Jun. 17, Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov declared: "We are extremely disappointed that neither the United States nor the European Union heed our calls to refrain from such moves," referring to their unilateral decision to go beyond the UN sanctions.
Polling Data
Do you think Russia should become a member of the European Union (EU)?
|
|
May 2010
|
Dec. 2004
|
|
Yes
|
50%
|
59%
|
|
No
|
26%
|
20%
|
|
Not sure
|
24%
|
21%
|
Source: Yury Levada Analytical Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted from May 21 to May 25, 2010. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.
