Public support for European Union membership remains robust across much of the EU’s eastern neighbourhood, with Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova showing particularly high levels of trust and optimism, according to a series of 2026 surveys released under the EUNEIGHBOURS East programme.

The annual polls, conducted between January and March 2026 through face-to-face interviews with representative samples of about 1,000 people in each country, track attitudes in six Eastern Partnership states since 2016. The latest results highlight both sustained pro-EU sentiment and widening differences in trust, perceived benefits and awareness of the bloc’s role.

Ukraine shows the strongest alignment with the EU across nearly all indicators, despite the ongoing war with Russia. The survey found 82% of Ukrainians believe their country has good relations with the EU, a 21-point increase since 2016, while trust in the bloc stands at 82%, the highest level in a decade.

More than two-thirds of Ukrainians (65%) support EU accession, and 77% say membership would bring more advantages than disadvantages. Three-quarters (75%) believe Ukraine will eventually join the bloc, including 19% who expect accession within five years.

Perceptions of EU assistance are also high: 96% of respondents said they were aware of EU financial support, 69% rated it effective, and 47% identified the EU as Ukraine’s largest financial contributor. Respondents most often associated membership with peace and security (69%), anti-corruption efforts (55%) and visa-free travel (54%).

In Georgia, support for EU membership remains strong but is accompanied by growing scepticism about progress towards accession. The survey found 71% of Georgians back EU membership, while 79% believe it would bring more advantages than disadvantages.

However, only 60% say relations with the EU are good, down from 63% a year earlier. Trust in the bloc stands at 67%, making it the most trusted international actor in the country, but 49% of respondents believe Georgia is not moving in the right direction towards membership.

Concerns over domestic reforms are also more pronounced in Georgia than elsewhere in the region. A majority of respondents said recent laws affecting civil society and media negatively impact accession prospects, while 87% said the country needs to do more to advance its European path. Awareness of EU information campaigns has fallen sharply, with only 40% reporting recent exposure, down 14 percentage points from 2025.

Moldova, which has emerged as one of the most advanced EU aspirants in the region, shows high levels of institutional trust and relatively strong but more measured public backing for membership.

Almost nine in ten Moldovans (89%) say their country has good relations with the EU, the highest level recorded in a decade. Trust in the EU stands at 70%, around 20 points higher than any other international actor, while 57% of respondents hold a positive image of the bloc.

Support for EU membership stands at 58%, with 22% opposed and 20% neutral, indicating a sizeable undecided group. However, 71% believe membership would bring more advantages than disadvantages, led by expectations of a better future for children (47%) and improved living standards (43%). Three-quarters (76%) believe Moldova will eventually join the EU, with a third expecting accession within five years.

Armenia presents a more complex picture, with generally positive attitudes but more ambivalence over the pace and implications of integration.

The survey found 72% of Armenians believe relations with the EU are good, while 56% trust the bloc, the highest among international actors. Support for EU membership stands at 54%, up nine percentage points from 2025, with 63% saying membership would bring more advantages than disadvantages.

However, only 45% hold a positive image of the EU, while 30% are neutral and 14% have no opinion. Awareness of EU financial support is lower than in Ukraine or Moldova, and only 17% of respondents identify the EU as the largest external financial contributor. Concerns about accession centre on relations with Russia and potential emigration.

At the lower end of the spectrum, Azerbaijan shows more limited and fragmented engagement with the EU. While 62% of respondents say relations between Azerbaijan and the EU are good, only 22% hold a positive image of the bloc, with 42% neutral and 8% negative.

Trust in the EU stands at 38%, trailing Türkiye (85%), the World Bank (59%), and China (49%). Awareness of EU financial support is relatively high at 63%, but only 26% rate it as strong and 45% consider it effective.

Public knowledge of the EU remains limited: 18% of respondents say they have never heard of the bloc, while only 16% consider themselves well informed. Respondents said greater EU engagement in economic development (39%), education (33%) and visa facilitation (29%) would improve perceptions.

Across the region, the surveys highlight both convergence and divergence in attitudes towards the EU. Ukraine and Moldova show high trust and strong expectations of eventual membership, while Georgia combines strong support with growing concern over political and legislative barriers. Armenia reflects rising but still cautious optimism, and Azerbaijan remains more detached, with lower trust and weaker identification of the EU as a key actor.