Russians would like to see the Eurasian Economic Union as an organization aiming at economic cooperation between the member-states.
MOSCOW, January 25, 2019. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to the Russians’ views on the Eurasian Economic Union.
Over the past five years the level of Russian awareness of the Eurasian Economic Union has increased from 66% in 2014 to 76% in 2019. In addition, three-quarters (76%) perceive positively the idea of its establishment (an increase from 70% in 2014).
Primarily, Russians would like to see the EAEU as an entirely new organizational form with its specifics and mission (39%). A further 28% see the EAEU as a new form of a union similar to the USSR, with its member-states being politically independent. Every tenth (9%) considers that the EAEU should resemble the European Union. Only 6% believe that Russia does not need the Eurasian Economic Union.
According to 40% of respondents, the positive consequences of the EAEU activities are the development of the Russian economy (22%), improvements in living standards (19%), cheaper and higher quality goods (18%), visa-free travel for the citizens of the member-states (16%), and job growth due to the opportunity to work in one of the member-states (16%).
Every second respondent (51%) thinks that the main objective of the organization is to enhance economic cooperation between its member-states. Fourteen percent of respondents say that the EAEU serves to strengthen friendly relations between the states. One-third (34%) think that the EAEU’s key purpose is to defend the boundaries and to strengthen military capabilities. Mutual aid and support is mentioned by 29% of respondents; 24% think that the EAEU aims to mutually counteract the U.S. and the Western countries.
VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on January 23, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
The 2014 results are based on household surveys.
Do you personally know/have you heard/do you hear for the first time about the Eurasian Economic Union? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2014 | 2019 |
I am well aware of it | 15 | 12 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 51 | 64 |
This is the first time I heard about it | 31 | 23 |
Don’t know | 3 | 1 |
In 2014, a treaty to establish the Eurasian Economic Union was signed in Astana; Russia became a member of the Union. How do you perceive the establishment of such Union? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2014 | 2019 |
Likely positively | 70 | 76 |
Likely negatively | 4 | 7 |
Don’t know | 26 | 17 |
What kind of union would you like the Eurasian Economic Union to be? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
A totally new kind of union with its specific form and mission | 39 |
A union that would restore the USSR in a new form, with the member-states being politically independent | 28 |
A union similar to the European Union | 9 |
I think that the Eurasian Economic Union is not important to Russia | 6 |
Other | 1 |
Don’t know | 16 |
In your opinion, will the Eurasian Economic Union activities have any consequences personally for you and your family? If yes, would there be negative or positive consequences? What kind of positive consequences? (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who consider that the EAEU activities will have positive consequences – 40%) | |
| % of those who consider that the EAEU activities will have positive consequences (40%) |
Development of Russian economy | 22 |
Improvement in living standards | 19 |
New cheaper, higher quality goods | 18 |
Visa-free travel for the Russian citizens to all member-states | 16 |
Job growth/ Opportunity to work in one of member-states | 16 |
I think that the consequences will be positive but I do not know what exactly will change for the better | 1 |
In your opinion, what are the objectives of the Eurasian Economic Union? (closed-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
To improve economic cooperation between the member-states | 51 |
To strengthen friendly relations between the states | 40 |
To defend external boundaries, strengthen military capabilities | 34 |
Mutual aid/ support for the member-states | 29 |
Joint counteraction to the USA /West | 24 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 8 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!