Ten years after members of parliament voted to hold the referendum that resulted in Britain’s departure from the European Union, a recent poll indicates that majorities in the bloc’s four largest member states would support the UK rejoining—albeit not on the same terms it had before. The YouGov survey, which covered six Western European countries including the UK, reveals that a clear majority of British voters now favor the country rejoining the bloc, but only if the UK can retain its previous opt-outs.
However, there remains a “public opinion impasse,” as the Labour government, which negotiated a “reset” with the bloc this year, seems unlikely to push for the UK’s return to the EU in the foreseeable future. YouGov’s EuroTrack survey disclosed that at least half of those polled across the four largest EU nations—France, Germany, Italy, and Spain—support the idea of the UK rejoining, with support levels ranging from 51% in Italy to 63% in Germany.
Despite this, the percentages drop significantly when it comes to allowing Britain to rejoin under the same conditions it enjoyed before its withdrawal, including not adopting the euro currency and staying outside the Schengen passport-free zone. Only one-fifth of respondents across these countries feel the UK should be permitted to return as a member under the same terms as before. Moreover, when asked if the UK should be allowed to rejoins only if it could keep its old opt-outs, opinions were divided, with 33-36% feeling this would be acceptable but 41-52% opposed.
In the UK, 54% of respondents supported rejoining the EU when the question was asked in isolation; however, this number decreased to 36% if rejoining meant giving up previous opt-outs, with 45% of Britons opposing renewed membership on such terms. The poll also found that remain voters and supporters of pro-EU parties would still generally support rejoining, but at much lower rates, if it entailed adopting the euro and becoming part of the Schengen area.
In contrast to other major EU nations, Denmark displayed a unique stance in the survey. An overwhelming 72% of respondents there supported the UK rejoining, with 43% also in favor of the UK retaining its previous opt-outs. Denmark’s position as one of only three EU member states with opt-outs in major EU policy areas sets it apart from the trends observed in larger member states. Additionally, the poll found that large majorities in all five continental countries (63-75%) would back an independent Scotland joining the EU.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/13/most-people-in-france-germany-italy-and-spain-would-support-uk-rejoining-eu-poll-finds
