Public favorability for the European Union has increased across Europe since the 2016 Brexit vote, according to recent survey data [1].
This shift suggests a softening of post-Brexit sentiment and a potential realignment of public opinion in the United Kingdom regarding its relationship with the bloc.
Data released May 28, 2026, from the Pew Research Center indicates that the median favorability rating for the EU across Europe now stands at 62 percent [1]. The survey found that the EU receives more positive ratings today in several European countries than it did during the period of the Brexit vote [1].
In the United Kingdom, a YouGov poll reported June 2, 2026, shows that 61 percent of British adults now support re-joining the EU [2]. This represents a significant shift in sentiment within the country that voted to leave the union a decade ago [2].
Analysts said that the political divide caused by the Brexit vote may have inadvertently brought the rest of Europe closer together [3]. While the UK experienced internal fragmentation, other member states appeared to strengthen their public commitment to the union [1].
These findings highlight a growing gap between the historical motivations for Brexit and current public sentiment in Britain. The data suggests that the perceived benefits of leaving the EU have diminished for a majority of the electorate [2].
“The median favorability rating for the EU across Europe now stands at 62 percent.”
The data indicates a reversal in the political momentum that drove the 2016 referendum. With a clear majority of UK voters now favoring a return to the EU and overall European support for the bloc increasing, there is a growing disconnect between current public opinion and the existing legal and political framework of Brexit.
