LONDON (Realist English). The Pew Research Center has published the results of a survey on perceptions of the European Union in eight European countries, as well as in Hungary, Poland and the United States. It found that a decade after the UK referendum to leave the EU, attitudes toward the bloc in most countries have become more positive than in 2016.
Overall Picture: Records of Trust
In 2026, the median share of positive ratings of the EU in eight countries (UK, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden) reached 62%. For comparison: in 2016, that figure was 49%. In 2017, immediately after the Brexit vote, there was a sharp jump to 60%, and in 2022, following the start of the war in Ukraine, ratings approached historic highs.
The highest level of EU approval was recorded in Sweden – 79%. It is followed by the Netherlands (73%), Germany (69%) and the United Kingdom (67%). Even six years after leaving the bloc, Britons generally view the EU positively. The lowest ratings are in Greece (55% positive) and France (56%), where opinions are almost evenly divided.
Ideological Divide
Support for the EU depends heavily on the political orientation of respondents. In most countries, people on the left are significantly warmer toward the union than those on the right.
- Poland: the gap between left and right reaches 44 percentage points (86% vs. 42%).
- Sweden: 81% of the left vs. 76% of the right.
- United Kingdom: 78% of the left vs. 55% of the right.
In every country surveyed, supporters of right‑wing populist parties are less likely to view the EU positively. The starkest contrast is in Hungary: among those who approve of the Fidesz party (Prime Minister Viktor Orbán), only 31% support the EU, while among non‑supporters of Fidesz, the figure is 82%. In the UK, supporters of Reform UK (formerly the Brexit Party) view the EU positively in 49% of cases, whereas non‑supporters do so in 76%.
In countries where left‑wing populist parties exist (France, Greece, Italy, Spain), their sympathisers are, on the contrary, more likely to view the EU favourably.
Age Differences
Younger people are generally more positive toward the European Union. In Italy, 80% of respondents under 35 approve of the EU, while among those over 50 only 56% do so. A similar pattern is seen in Germany, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
View from the US
A majority of Americans (59%) also have a favourable opinion of the EU, a figure that has remained stable in recent years. Democrats and Democratic‑leaning independents approve of the union more often than Republicans and Republican‑leaners (77% vs. 43%). At the same time, younger Republicans (under 49) view the EU more positively than their older counterparts (48% vs. 37%), while younger Democrats are slightly less positive than older Democrats (74% vs. 82%).
British Society Says “No” to Leaving the EU
A decade after the Brexit vote, the European Union has not only retained trust but has strengthened its position in the eyes of Europeans. The greatest growth in support is seen among left‑wing voters and young people. However, significant ideological and age gaps remain, and in countries where right‑wing populist movements are strong, attitudes toward the EU remain more reserved.
Key data from early 2026 show a stable majority in favour of rethinking Brexit and “rejoin”. According to a YouGov poll (April 2026), 58% consider leaving the EU a mistake (compared with 29%), and 55% support full return to the union. Similar figures come from Deltapoll for The Mirror, where 59% were in favour of joining the EU, while a More in Common poll (The Sunday Times) indicates that only 29% would vote to leave today – almost half as many as in 2016.
Partisan and Demographic Divide
YouGov data from April 2026 clearly show differences in voter priorities:
- A course of rapprochement without returning to the EU is supported by a majority (63% of the population), as well as by Conservative voters and Leave supporters.
- Returning to the EU is mainly supported by Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green voters. Notably, even among those who voted Leave in 2016, 22% are now ready to rejoin the bloc.
- Further weakening ties with the EU is a position held by only 22% of the population and 44% of Leave supporters, and is particularly popular among Reform UK supporters.
However, aggregated data hide a deep partisan and demographic divide. While Labour (71%) and Liberal Democrats (78%) passionately want to return, Conservatives and Reform UK supporters oppose it (66% and 82% respectively favour maintaining the current status). The generational gap is also huge: 86% of young people aged 18–24 support returning, while among those over 65, only 42% support the idea.
