Two weeks before the Brexit Referendum and support for the European Union has fallen across Europe. A survey by the Pew Research Center suggests that support for the European Union has fallen in several EU states. In Germany, the EU’s popularity has fallen eight points to 50 percent in just a year. A median of 51% of those surveyed held a favorable view of the EU, and a median of 42% wanted more power shifted away from Brussels and returned to their national governments. Only 19% favor giving Brussels more power and 27% favor the status quo. Nevertheless, a median of 70% in the nine EU nations surveyed that don’t get a vote June 23 believe it would be bad for the EU if the UK decided to depart. Only 16% say it would be a good thing.
The Pew survey revealed that 48 percent of British voters had an unfavorable opinion about the EU, compared to 44 percent who were in favor, a similar figure to recent national opinion polls.
But the research went further than simply polling the UK public ahead of their referendum on EU membership on June the 23. It revealed that voters elsewhere in the 28-member bloc are also losing faith in the European project.
The data revealed a growing skepticism in France, with support for the EU falling 17 percent in a year to 38 percent. Only Greece, which has suffered deep austerity imposed by Brussels, viewed the EU more negatively that the French.
Favorability ratings also fell by 16 points in Spain to 47 percent and by eight points in Germany to 50 percent.
Favorability of the EU varies widely in Europe https://t.co/pzlSj6H4ya pic.twitter.com/b4y0mujauU
— Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) June 8, 2016
Public support for the EU was strongest in Poland and Hungary, countries which ironically have two of the most EU-skeptical governments in the entire bloc. Around 72 percent of Poles and 61 percent of Hungarians view the EU favorably, according to the Pew data.
Economy, migration singled out
The pollsters interviewed voters in 10 EU states, including Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden.
Young voters and those who support left-wing parties are generally more favorable towards the European Union than the elderly or right-wing populists.
The EU’s handling of the migrant crisis was viewed negatively by some 94 percent of Greeks, 88 percent of Swedes, 77 percent of Italians and 75 percent of Spaniards.
Overwhelming majorites in European countries unhappy with EU's handling of refugees https://t.co/pzlSj6H4ya pic.twitter.com/ZCIUEGm4FR
— Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) June 8, 2016
At 92 percent, Greeks were also the most disapproving of the EU’s handling of the economy, followed by the Italians at 68 percent and French at 66 percent.
Europeans generally disapproved of the EU's handling of the economy https://t.co/pzlSj6H4ya pic.twitter.com/VdYvkEBmQ0
— Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) June 8, 2016
But, despite a mounting tide of euroskepticism, most voters in Europe would regret seeing Britain leave. Majorities in the other nine countries – including 89 percent of Swedes – oppose Brexit.
However, the data highlights how Euroskepticism is not neatly divided down left- and right-wing lines.
According to Quartz.com that focused on the ideological aspect of the survey, EU distrust isn’t just a right-wing cause. “In the UK, anti-EU sentiment is largely (though not exclusively) the preserve of the right. Pew found that Brits on the left were 31 percentage points more likely than those on the right to view the EU favorably. Contrast this with Spain, where those on the right were found to be more likely to support the EU.”
The Pew Research Center survey published on June 7th was conducted among 10,000 people in 9 major EU nations.
“major” also in the sense ‘hit by the economic and refugee crisis, like Greece. 🙂
Well of course Brexit would be bad for the EU – we would lose the 3rd biggest net contributor.
And without Britain the only strong tradition of parliamentary democracy (no matter how strangled at the moment) would evaporate too. The EU – Scandinavia apart – would be left to its fascist ghosts.