Europeans tiring of EU enlargement: survey

Europeans are becoming more disenchanted with EU enlargement, with less than half in support of bringing new members into the 25-nation bloc, according to a Eurobarometer survey released Thursday.

The survey, conducted between March 27 and May 1, found that only 45 percent of the European Union’s citizens support expanding the EU in the next few years, compared to 49 percent in the last poll from December.

The figures contrast to the attitudes of Europe’s political elite, who are holding membership talks with Turkey and Croatia, while Macedonia waits for a date to begin accession negotiations. Bulgaria and Romania are already scheduled to join on January 1.

Full article: AFP, EU Business, 6 July 2006