Politics

Fall in support in Ireland for direction in which European Union is going

Survey finds significant dissatisfaction with how the EU responded to the war in Gaza

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen came under heavy criticism from Opposition politicians and pro-Palestine activists in Ireland. Photograph: Wojtek Radwanski/AFP via Getty Images

Jack Power
Wed May 8 2024 - 00:01

Less than half of those polled on the island of Ireland think the European Union is moving in the right direction, with a large majority on both sides of the Border unhappy about how it responded to the conflict in Gaza, according to a new opinion poll.

The poll of 1,200 people, commissioned by European Movement Ireland and conducted across the island, still found strong levels of backing in the Republic for Ireland remaining in the EU, at 84 per cent support.

The research, however, found high levels of dissatisfaction on both sides of the Border with how the EU responded to the conflict in Gaza, as well as the response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The opinion poll was conducted by Amárach Research and surveyed people online over three days in late March.

It found 64 per cent of respondents in the Republic were unhappy with how the EU responded to the war in Gaza. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen came under heavy criticism from Opposition politicians and pro-Palestine activists in Ireland, over comments at the start of the conflict which were seen as lending unconditional support to Israel, following the October 7th attacks by Hamas militants.

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Nearly half of all those surveyed said they were not satisfied with how the EU had responded to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Only a third of people in the Republic agreed that the EU could still rely on the United States as a partner when it came to defence in the future. Some 56 per cent of those polled in the Republic said Ireland should spend more on defence co-operation with the EU. A majority of people on the island of Ireland said they would support more countries joining the EU.

Only 49 per cent of respondents in the Republic said they were happy with the direction the EU was going, a significant drop on the 58 per cent who responded positively to the same question a year ago. People who took part in the poll said the EU had been weak on migration and defence, and strong on trade.

Only 9 per cent of people in the Republic said they believed Ireland should leave the EU. Support for remaining a member state was highest among young people in the Republic, with 91 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds in favour of continued membership. While support for remaining in the EU remains high at 84 per cent, that is a slight drop from 88 per cent recorded last year.

Noelle O’Connell, chief executive of European Movement Ireland, the non-profit who commission the annual survey, said the dip in support for the EU was concerning. While Ireland still had one of the highest levels of support for EU membership, that should not be taken for granted going forward, she said.

Jack Power

Jack Power

Jack Power is acting Europe Correspondent of The Irish Times

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