Kandidaat-lidstaten willen Europese minister van Buitenlandse Zaken (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - A new survey published today by the European Commission shows that seven out of ten people from the countries which will join the EU next year support the idea of an EU foreign minister.

But there is a wide variation between individual states. Some 82 percent of people questioned in Slovenia want a EU foreign minister, but this drops to 53 percent in the Czech Republic.

There is higher support for a common EU foreign policy in the accession countries, with 74 percent in favour. Cyprus is most in favour of a common policy - with 87 percent - and Malta least in favour with just over half.

These countries are even more in favour of a common defence policy, with 84 percent declaring themselves for "a common defence and security policy among European Union member states".

Growing support for enlargement

Bulgarians - who do not yet know when they will enter the Union, are most in favour of the enlargement of the EU, by 87-3. Estonians - who recently voted in favour of joining the EU - are still the most sceptical. Of those questioned 59 percent said they were in favour, compared to 22 percent against.

Overall, support for enlargement is growing in accesion countries. Some 79 percent of accesion country citizens are in favour of enlargement - this represents an increase of support of 4 percent since Spring 2003.

Accession country citizens believe that the main priorities of the EU should be fighting unemployment, poverty, terrorism and maintaining peace and security in Europe.

The "Eurobarometer" poll surveyed 12,216 in 13 countries (10 accession countries and 3 candidate countries).