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The EU is facing an internal mutiny over plans to expand its borders, with public opinion split on whether new nations should be added to the 27-strong bloc.<\/p>\n
Polling has found there is no majority support for adding newer member states in some of the bloc’s oldest constituents, including Germany and France.<\/p>\n
Residents of those founding members appear generally opposed to the potential accession of three countries tipped to join – Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro – according to a survey of six EU by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR).<\/p>\n
The ECFR found Austrian and Danish residents were also within that camp ahead of crunch talks discussing the eventual membership of the Balkan nations.<\/p>\n
But it uncovered a significant divide between the anti-expansionist Europeans and their counterparts in newer member states, who appear more welcoming of the prospect.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: <\/strong> \u2018Relieved\u2019 Cameron spared brutal grilling by Brexiteers as Rwanda vote looms<\/strong><\/p>\n Pollsters asked locals in Romania, Poland, Denmark, France, Germany and Australia whether they felt the EU should (or shouldn’t) be looking to add new members.<\/p>\n Respondents were able to say whether they felt the bloc should not add new nations, whether they didn’t know, felt indifferent, or would favour additional members.<\/p>\n The survey found widespread support for enlargement in Poland and Romania, member states that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007, respectively.<\/p>\n Romania was the most pro-expansion among the countries polled, with 51 per cent of people stating the bloc should look to add new members to 47 per cent who believed it should not.<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Poland was a close second, with 47 per cent in favour of expansion and 19 per cent opposed to new additions.<\/p>\n In Denmark, France, Germany and Austria, a minority – 29, 27, 28 and 28 per cent of people, respectively – said they would welcome expansion, while the majority – 37, 44, 50 and 53 per cent – said they would not.<\/p>\n The overall result was that a slim majority of people favoured inducting new countries, with 35 per cent in support and 37 opposed, but including the indifferent and undecided responses, there was no clear winning opinion.<\/p>\n
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