A new survey suggests that public sentiment in the UK and Europe is shifting in favor of closer ties between the two sides, according to research from the European Council on Foreign Relations. The survey, conducted in the wake of the US election, found that 55% of Britons think the UK should realign with the EU under a second Trump term, prioritizing stronger relations with Brussels over the US.
The survey also showed that there is reluctance in the UK to follow Trump’s lead on major foreign policy issues such as China and Ukraine. On the continent, pluralities of respondents in Germany and Poland support closer ties with the UK.
The survey, which polled over 9,000 people across the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain, found that both sides are willing to cooperate more closely on trade and security. In the UK, the majority of respondents see improved ties as assisting with their key priorities around migration, security, and the economy. European respondents, meanwhile, are open to granting the UK “special access” to the EU single market and access to research programs in exchange for greater security cooperation.
The poll also suggests that both sides are willing to consider free movement of people in exchange for stronger economic ties. However, the survey also notes that the impact of Trump’s tariffs could cause “binary” choices for both sides, with the UK potentially being forced to choose between the US and the EU.
Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former prime minister of Denmark and ECFR board trustee, noted that while it is expected for the UK to pursue a close relationship with the US, this should not preclude close ties with the EU. She suggested that the current backdrop could actually improve the UK’s position when seeking improved relations with the EU.
