While Brussels pushes forward with its agenda, the latest findings from the Századvég Institute’s 2025 Europe Project reveal significant resistance across the continent. Public opinion in 11 EU member states stands firmly against Ukraine’s fast-tracked EU membership—underscoring a clear lack of consensus.
This opposition is especially pronounced in Ukraine’s neighboring and nearby countries, including Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Even more striking is the skepticism found in Germany and France, the EU’s two most populous nations, where the majority of citizens do not support expedited accession—regardless of the war’s outcome.
Despite these sentiments, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament in May that Ukraine must “accelerate its accession” and confirmed efforts are underway to ensure all accession chapters are opened by the end of 2025. However, the EU’s own treaties require unanimous approval by all member states for any new country to join—a threshold that current public opinion makes virtually impossible to meet.
The 2025 Europe Project data reveals a continent split on the issue. In 16 countries, there is majority support for Ukraine’s immediate entry into the EU. But in the remaining 11—including key member states—opposition outweighs support. If EU leaders were to act in alignment with their voters, not only would unanimity be out of reach, but even a qualified majority would likely fail.
The accession index, which calculates the net support or opposition to Ukraine’s accession, shows negative values in several strategically significant countries. Among them are not only Ukraine’s neighbors but also the political heavyweights of France and Germany. These results indicate that the push for Ukraine’s integration lacks democratic legitimacy in much of the EU.
As the Századvég Institute concludes, a top-down push for Ukraine’s accession—disconnected from public will—threatens to fracture European unity. The institute’s findings challenge the narrative of a united Europe and highlight the growing rift between institutional agendas and citizen preferences.
