New research from ORB International in conjunction with their partners at WIN/Gallup International has found that despite the UK voting to start the process to leave the EU in June 2016, the impact in the rest of Europe appears to be minimal in the majority of countries.
The percentage of people in Germany, France and Belgium who would vote to leave has fallen from 12 months ago; those in Denmark and Sweden are also significantly less likely to vote to leave compared with a year ago. However, on the reverse there has been significant increases in support to leave in Finland (up from 29% to 40%) and in Greece (up from 38% to 46%). The large increase in support for leaving seen in Italy last year has been maintained in 2016 with 40% (down from 42%) preferring to leave.
When the study asked those in the UK how they would vote in a second referendum 54% said they would prefer to be a part of the EU and 46% preferring to remain out (down from the 54% recorded in our poll 12 months ago). The Irish and the Spanish (both 20% voting to leave) are the most pro EU of those polled.
Has the Brexit vote in the UK delivered some optimism for the future? Well our survey reveals 48% of the UK public believe the country is now heading in the right direction (a score which over the last few years would traditionally be closer to the 33% mark). Optimism is most widespread in Ireland (62%) and Iceland (57%). However for most in Europe, the view is that their countries are heading in the wrong direction, most noticeably in Greece (89%), France (82%) and Italy (79%)
Johnny Heald, Managing Director of ORB International said:
“2016 saw the EU foundations severely shaken. Votes in Greece, Italy, Finland would create further uncertainty in the markets. But what stands out also in the overwhelming view from EU citizens that their countries are heading in the wrong direction (most noticeable in France and Greece) which makes fertile ground for right-wing populist parties”
Sample Size and Mode of Field Work:
ORB interviewed a representative sample of 1000 adults throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 27th – 30th November 2016. Fieldwork in other countries was also conducted online among nationally representative samples of adults from the 25th November – 7th December 2016. The final data has been weighted in each country to ensure it is representative of the total adult population
About ORB International
Established in 1994,ORBhas grown to become one of the UK’s leading bespoke corporate and issues-led market research companies. Their polling has featured regularly in national newspapers both in the UK and abroad. They are a founding member of the British Polling Council and a member of the World Association of Public Opinion Research (WAPOR). ORB is the UK member of the global WIN/Gallup International Association
About WIN/Gallup International
WIN/Gallup Internationalis the leading association in market research and polling and is made up of the80largest independent market research and polling firms in their respective countries with combined revenue of over€550million and covering95%of the world’s market.
For more than 65 years WIN/Gallup International Members have demonstrated their expert ability to conduct multi-country surveys on a comparable basis and deliver the highest quality. Their Members are leading national institutes with a profound local knowledge of research methods and techniques, statistical sources, customs and culture differences of its own country and carefully selected by the Association Board. With only one Member agency per country, Members work together on a daily basis to share knowledge, new research techniques and tools, as well as to provide the most appropriate solutions to international research projects and service our clients to the best of our abilities.
Disclaimer: Gallup International Association or its members are not related to Gallup Inc., headquartered in Washington D.C which is no longer a member of Gallup International Association. Gallup International Association does not accept responsibility for opinion polling other than its own. We require that our surveys be credited fully as Gallup International (not Gallup or Gallup Poll). For further details see website: www.wingia.com
For more information:
Johnny Heald
ORB International