When asked about the greatest benefits of future enlargement, Portuguese respondents point to strengthening the EU's influence in the world (40%), the creation of a broad market for companies, greater diversity of choices and more innovation (36%), as well as cultural diversity (36%), and more job opportunities and a skilled workforce (34%).

Regarding current and potential candidates for EU membership, like Europeans in general (52%), Portuguese citizens (65%) also highlight Ukraine, followed by Turkey (54%) and Albania (53%) on the list of countries whose integration garners the most support among national participants.

In surveys conducted in the candidate and potential candidate countries themselves, which "generally reveal strong support for EU membership," as the European Commission points out in a statement, the greatest enthusiasm for EU integration comes from Albania (91%), Georgia (74%), North Macedonia (69%), and Ukraine (68%).

On the other hand, among the top concerns regarding potential EU enlargement, the Portuguese (like other Europeans) primarily fear the lack of immigration controls. The "cost to European taxpayers" comes in second place, along with "corruption, organized crime, and terrorism," followed by the increase in economic and financial disparity between countries and regions.

And what would be needed to ensure the success of a future EU enlargement? A "clear commitment from candidate countries to implement reforms and comply with EU standards" (43%) and "measures to ensure they maintain the rule of law, combat corruption, and protect fundamental rights" (40%), according to the more than one thousand national participants in face-to-face interviews conducted between February and March 2025.