73% of Russians believe Russia should aspire to join EU

A large majority of Russians consider that Russia should aspire to join the EU. Specialists of the Public Opinion fund came to that conclusion after surveying 1500 respondents on June 7. 73% of respondents said that it was essential that Russia join the EU. Only 10% of those surveyed did not share that point of view.

According to Russians, there currently exists a favourable climate for rapprochement between Russia and the EU. 55% say that the majority of EU leaders relate to Russia with sympathy. Moreover, 32% of those questioned say that Russia will interact more successfully in the EU than with the US. Another 32% believe that interaction of Russia with the EU and US is equally successful and only 8% of respondents say that Russia was more successful in creating better relations with the US than with the EU.

An equal number of respondents (50%) say that Russia has as good a perspective in developing partnership relations with the EU as it does with the US. 31% say that the primary direction of Russia's efforts should be in rapprochement with the EU. Only 2% think that Russia should give a preference toward building partnership relations with the US.