Corruption and EU reluctance: Ukrainians name key obstacles to EU membership – KIIS

A total of 32% of Ukrainians believe corruption in the central government is the biggest obstacle to the country's EU membership, while 29% point to the reluctance of the European Union or some of its member states to admit Ukraine.

Source: a survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on 12-21 September

Details: Survey participants were asked to choose one of six answers to the question of what most hinders Ukraine's progress towards EU membership.

A total of 32% cited corruption in the central government, while 29% pointed to the reluctance of the EU or some of its member states to admit Ukraine.

Another 15% cited the war, while 10% pointed to the inadequate performance of the government and parliament.

Resistance to reforms by certain influential groups was selected by 5% of respondents, while 3% cited insufficient independence of the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.

For reference: The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology conducted its nationwide Omnibus public opinion survey, which included questions commissioned by the NGO Forum on attitudes towards holding an independent competitive selection process involving foreign experts to appoint the prosecutor general, as well as Ukraine's progress towards EU membership.

KIIS interviewed 1,002 Ukrainian citizens over 18 by telephone who were living in government-controlled territory. Respondents were selected using a random sample of mobile phone numbers.

The sample did not include residents of Russian-occupied territories or Ukrainian citizens who left the country after 24 February 2022. However, internally displaced people from occupied territories were included among the respondents.

The formal statistical margin of error, taking the design effect into account, does not exceed 4.1 percentage points. KIIS notes that additional systematic deviations may occur under wartime conditions.

Background:

• The European Commission has postponed until 6 October the presentation of its assessment of how future EU enlargement will affect the bloc's key policies and what changes the EU itself may need in order to admit new member states.
• Earlier, EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos presented four areas for changes to the EU enlargement process: internal reforms of the bloc, stronger democratic safeguards, gradual integration and transitional measures.

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