Europeans split over Turkey EU membership: poll

(ISTANBUL) - Europeans are divided over the question of Turkey's possible membership of the European Union, according to a survey published on Sunday.

The poll, carried out in five EU countries, showed 47 percent of people said they were in favour of Turkey joining the 27-nation bloc, 47 percent opposed it and six percent had no opinion.

But when the question was asked in the context of a referendum, opinion swung away from Turkey, with 52 percent opposing its membership bid and only 41 percent backing it, with seven percent giving no answer.

The study organised by Istanbul's Bogazici University, Granada University in southern Spain and the Autonomous University of Madrid questioned 5,000 people in Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Spain during August and September.

Opposition to Turkey's membership was strongest in France, with 64 percent saying they would oppose it in a referendum, in Germany with 62 percent and in Britain with 46 percent.

There was more support for Turkey in Poland, with 54 percent saying "yes" in a referendum, and Spain with 53 percent.

Asked about arguments against Turkey joining the EU, 39 percent said Turkey was "a Muslim country ... not compatible with the common Christian roots" of Europe.

The EU began membership talks with Turkey in 2005, but the process has made slow progress due in part to opposition from some countries, particularly France and Germany, which are concerned about a predominantly Muslim country of 71 million people joining the bloc.