Turks’ enthusiasm about EU membership waning

PanARMENIAN.Net - Domestic support for Turkey’s European Union membership is losing its momentum, as two thirds of Turks say they’ve lost their appetite for the EU bid and believe Ankara should abandon its pursuit of full membership, a recent study has shown, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

The survey demonstrated that while one third of those surveyed agreed Turkey should persevere with the goal of becoming an EU member, two-thirds of the public lean closer to the view that Turkey should not become a full member.

TNS-Turkey undertook the survey on behalf of the Center for Economy and Foreign Policy Research (EDAM) with the participation of 1,509 people aged 18 and above whom represented a cross-section of the country’s urban and rural populations.

Twenty percent of respondents support the idea that Turkey should abandon its work toward a full membership and formulate a new relationship with the EU based on common interests.

Nevertheless, over 50 percent of the public still view a partnership with the EU in a positive.