EU Support Hits 62% Across Europe a Decade After Brexit

A decade after the Brexit vote that shocked the world, Europeans are feeling better about the EU than ever before.

Public support for the European Union has climbed to 62% across eight countries tracked since 2016, up from just 49% at the time of the referendum, according to a new Pew Research Centre survey. The finding suggests that Britain's departure didn't spark the wave of anti-EU sentiment many feared.

The biggest surprise? The UK itself has become one of the most pro-EU countries surveyed.

Despite narrowly voting to leave in 2016, 67% of Britons now view the bloc favorably. That's a dramatic shift from the 48% who held unfavorable views during the referendum. Only Sweden, at 79%, shows stronger support for the EU among the ten countries now included in the survey.

The turnaround extends across Europe. Germany recorded 68% support, while the Netherlands, Poland, and Italy all topped 60%. Even France, often skeptical of EU institutions, reached 52% favorability.

Researchers point to two key moments that boosted European solidarity. Support jumped in the years immediately after Brexit as Europeans watched the UK navigate a difficult separation. It climbed again after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when EU countries rallied together on defense, energy security, and aid for Kyiv.

The political divide on Europe has narrowed too. While left-leaning voters remain more supportive of the EU, positive views have grown across the political spectrum since 2016.

The Ripple Effect

The shift in public opinion comes at a pivotal moment for UK-EU relations. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated he wants closer ties with Europe, and the survey suggests public sentiment on both sides now supports that direction.

The findings also challenge the narrative that populist movements would pull Europe apart. Instead, the experience of Brexit appears to have reminded Europeans of what they value about cooperation. From joint pandemic responses to coordinated energy policies, the past decade has shown what the bloc can accomplish together.

For younger Britons especially, many of whom voted to remain, the data reflects a generation that grew up with European connections and misses them. A separate YouGov survey found that while 64% wouldn't rejoin if it meant adopting the euro and Schengen rules, there's strong appetite for closer collaboration short of full membership.

The survey suggests that sometimes it takes losing something to appreciate its value.