„A clear majority of Austrians wants their country to stay a member of the European Union. More than half doubt that a new referendum on EU membership would make sense. A pragmatic view prevails: Despite many shortcomings of the Union, Austria is still better off inside the EU”, says Paul Schmidt, Secretary General of the Austrian Society for European Politics (ÖGfE), with regard to a new Austrian wide ÖGfE-survey.
55 per cent of Austrians say that a new referendum on Austria’s membership in the European Union would not make sense. 40 per cent would be in favour of such a referendum (5 per cent “don’t know / no answer”).
If there was a referendum on Austria’s EU membership next Sunday, 68 per cent would vote for staying in the Union, while 22 per cent would opt for leaving the EU (10 per cent “don’t know / no answer”). Independent of gender, age or education there is no segment of society with a majority in favour of leaving the EU. Of those respondents who think that a new referendum would make sense, 43 per cent would vote to stay in the Union, while 45 per cent would opt for leaving the EU. Of those who do not think that a referendum would make sense, 88 per cent would vote to stay in the Union, while 6 per cent would decide to leave it.*
„In times of ever stronger demand for more direct democracy, Austrians clearly distinguish which topics are at present suitable for referenda and which are not.”
Seven out of ten respondents say that a pro-European stance of a new Austrian government is important for them (40 per cent “very important”, 30 per cent “rather important”). One in four says that this topic is “rather not important (14 per cent) or “not important at all” (11 per cent)*.
The current survey was conducted from 6 to 13 November 2017 by the Sozialwissenschaftliche Studiengesellschaft (SWS) on behalf of ÖGfE. 527 persons were questioned via telephone (Austrian population from the age of 16 / weighted according to gender, age and education). Maximum margin of fluctuation approx. +/- 4,3 percent. Difference to 100 percent due to rounded values respectively (*) „don’t know / no answer.)
