Majority of Germans would support the UK re-joining the EU
Among the four largest EU nations, Germany stands out as showing the highest levels of support for welcoming the UK back into the EU.
According to the
YouGov
, 63 percent of Germans are in favour of the UK being allowed to re-join.
The margin varies from country to country, but citizens in each of the Western European nations could ultimately support a 'Breturn'.
Italy was the least enthusiastic at 51 percent of citizens approving, while Spain and France fall in the middle at 60 percent and 53 percent, respectively.
Polling in Denmark and Sweden found even greater levels of support for the UK re-joining, at 71 percent and 70 percent respectively.
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The data indicates a broadly favourable climate across Western Europe for the proposition - a marked improvement on previous polls.
On the fifth anniversary of the Brexit referendum in June 2021, support for the UK re-joining stood at 40 percent in Germany, 36 percent in France, and 43 and 46 percent in Italy and Spain, according to
a poll for Euronews
.
The terms of return
Support in Germany and across the EU is not unconditional, however.
When respondents were asked if the UK should be allowed to return on the same terms it enjoyed before – such as keeping the British pound and remaining outside the Schengen passport-free zone – support for the idea plummeted.
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In Germany, only 22 percent favoured the UK re-joining with its previous opt-outs intact.
The pattern is similar elsewhere, with the number in favour falling to 19 percent in France and Italy, and 21 percent in Spain.
A clear majority in each country (ranging from 58 percent to 62 percent) insist the UK must participate fully in all major EU policy areas if it wishes to re-join.
How does this compare with attitudes in the UK?
On the UK side, according to the YouGov survey, 55 percent of Britons now support re-joining the EU.
In a mirror image of the response in Europe, however, support for the idea drops sharply to just 36 percent when respondents are told this will mean giving up previous opt-outs, such as keeping the pound and remaining outside the Schengen area.
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This creates what YouGov describes as a 'public opinion impasse': both sides want a deal, but only on terms the other is unlikely to accept.
The authors of the YouGov report also note that, despite the shift in sentiment, there is 'precious little likelihood' of the UK attempting to re-join, especially as the Labour government is currently focused on resetting relations rather than on exploring the possibility of full reintegration.
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