EUROPE is turning against Brussels with anti-EU feeling spreading through the Continent – as our exclusive map today reveals.
By CAROLINE WHEELER, UK EXPRESS
Conversely, optimism is highest in Ireland and among the eastern European countries, with 73 per cent in Romania and 70 per cent in Poland saying they are positive about the future of the EU.
The bi-annual survey conducted by the European Commission gauges public opinion across all member states.
It was carried out between November 7 and 17 last year when the refugee crisis was getting worse.
Migration is considered to be the most fundamental issue the EU must deal with.
The majority of the population in 25 of the 28 member states have a negative feeling about immigration of people from outside the EU.
Around nine in 10 Europeans said additional measures should be taken to fight illegal immigration.
Last night Arron Banks, founder of Leave.EU, said: “It is no surprise that the rest of Europe has finally woken up to the fact that the EU is a failed project. It is now clear there is a rising tide of Eurosceptic discontent across the entire Continent.
“As usual Britain is leading the way and taking decisive action by holding a referendum which will liberate us from this overbearing, archaic, expensive, bureaucratic institution.”
A Dutch opinion poll last week revealed 53 per cent want an in-out vote with 44 per cent opposed and the rest unsure.
Pollster Maurice de Hond also asked people how they would vote in a referendum.
His results showed the remain and leave groups are very close with 44 per cent saying they would vote to stay compared with 43 per cent voting to leave.
Member states also feel the image of the EU is suffering as the union struggles to survive.
The proportion of Europeans who agree that their voice counts in the EU has also fallen by three points to 39 per cent.
Last night in Ireland, which has suffered years of EU-imposed austerity, there were signs that the mood against the status quo was shifting.
Exit polls in its general election pointed to voters turning against established parties, prompting fears of a second election.
David Cameron was in Northern Ireland yesterday as he continued a tour of the UK setting out the case for staying in the EU.
The Prime Minister said the country’s economy and farming industry were too closely linked to the EU to risk the “leap in the dark” of voting to quit.
Chancellor George Osborne said: “Here at the G20, finance leaders and central bank governors of the world’s biggest economies have raised serious concerns about the risks posed by a UK exit from the EU.
“They have concluded unanimously that what they call the shock of a potential UK vote to leave is among the biggest economic dangers this year. If that’s their assessment of the impact on the world economy, imagine what it would do to the UK.
“This isn’t some amusing adventure into the unknown. A British exit would hurt people’s jobs, livelihoods and living standards. It’s deadly serious. It’s my responsibility as Chancellor to make it clear to people what the economic risks are and that we are stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.”
Ukip’s Nigel Farage said the G20 announcement was “no surprise” because it was “mates helping each other out”.
He added: “I’m not surprised that big government gets together to support David Cameron.
“This is big banks, big business, big government all scratching each other’s backs. I don’t think that impresses voters.”
@ babushka:
Actually, I would prefer a 50,000 year long civil war — once we get the Jews and the French/British nukes out.
Merkel has doomed Europe. The demographic bomb she has crafted will turn the continent into a Middle Eastern hellhole. In the process, she has become my hero. One of the all-time greats. Manna from heaven.
Wow, even belgium is not that optimistic about the eu. Also, when the chancellor means that the uk exit will hurt jobs and livelihoods, he means that a lot of bureaucrats and welfare recipients won’t be able to parasitically live of british taxes anymore.