A person holds an American flag depicting president-elect Donald Trump at Parliament Sq. in London.
Jeff J Mitchell | Getty Photographs Information | Getty Photographs
As U.Okay. and EU leaders search to reset relations forward of President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White Home, public sentiment additionally seems to be shifting in favor of nearer ties throughout the continent, in line with a brand new survey.
The vast majority of Britons (55%) suppose the U.Okay. ought to realign with the EU below a second Trump time period, and prioritize stronger relations with Brussels over the U.S. (17%), analysis from the European Council on Overseas Relations confirmed Thursday. There was additionally reluctance for Britain to comply with Trump’s lead on main overseas coverage points similar to China and Ukraine.
On the continent, the sensation is mutual, with pluralities of respondents throughout EU international locations — and Germany and Poland particularly — supporting nearer ties with the U.Okay.
The research, performed within the wake of the U.S. election, seeks to supply the most recent image of public opinion on Brexit, greater than eight years after the landmark vote.
The discharge comes days after U.Okay. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves on Monday talked up renewed relations with Brussels throughout a visit to convene together with her EU counterparts — the primary such assembly since Britain formally left the bloc in 2020.
“We not dwell on the earth of Brexit. That world got here to an finish on Nov. 5, 2024,” Mark Leonard, ECFR co-founder and overseas coverage professional, mentioned throughout an occasion in London to announce the findings.
“There’s a hanging and widely-held need on each side of the channel to get nearer collectively,” he added.
The survey — which polled greater than 9,000 folks throughout the U.Okay., France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain — confirmed a specific willingness for each side to cooperate extra carefully on commerce and safety.
If the U.Okay. is in some way pressured to decide on between the U.S. and EU … that is maybe a binary alternative
Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Former prime minister of Denmark
Within the U.Okay., the vast majority of respondents mentioned they noticed improved ties as helping with their key priorities round migration, safety and the financial system. In the meantime, respondents in Europe mentioned they have been open to granting the U.Okay. “particular entry” to the EU single market and entry to the bloc’s analysis applications in trade for larger safety cooperation.
Either side additionally expressed a willingness to contemplate free motion of individuals in trade for stronger financial ties.
Trump tariffs create ‘binary’ selections
Trump’s Nov. 5 election has added to a way of unease in Europe, notably round nationwide safety and the influence of potential tariffs, with the president-elect beforehand warning that the EU might be topic to new commerce levies to deal with the numerous commerce imbalance.
The U.Okay., in the meantime, which has a much smaller commerce imbalance with the U.S., could also be hoping that its “particular relationship” throughout the Atlantic — and Trump’s affinity for Brexit — are sufficient to spare it from essentially the most punitive of measures.
Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former prime minister of Denmark and ECFR board trustee, informed CNBC that it was anticipated — and within the U.Okay.’s curiosity — to pursue “as shut a relationship with the U.S. as doable.” However she mentioned that ought to not preclude shut ties with the EU, too.
“If we’re on the lookout for a reset, this can be a good time,” she mentioned, noting that the present backdrop may truly enhance the U.Okay.’s place when in search of improved relations with the EU. “It is a time the place there may be maybe leverage (for the U.Okay.) to ask for a bit extra.”
Thorning-Schmidt, who was prime minister between 2011 to 2015, acknowledged, nonetheless, that there might be some “binary” selections forward as each side search to place themselves below a Trump presidency.
“If there are tariffs coming our manner, will we retaliate? Is that a solution?” Thorning-Schmidt mentioned.
“If we’re requested to align extra with the U.S. by way of their China coverage, that might be a binary alternative as effectively,” she continued.
“And if the U.Okay. is in some way pressured to decide on between the U.S. and EU — which I do not suppose they may — that is maybe a binary alternative.”
