A new survey finds broad support across the EU for the UK’s return, while most Britons now favor closer ties with the bloc — even if that means accepting free movement.
Nearly a decade after Britain voted to leave the European Union, public opinion on both sides of the Channel appears to be shifting toward a closer relationship — and possibly even a future return.
A new survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that two-thirds of EU citizens across 15 countries would support the UK rejoining the bloc. The finding suggests that, despite years of political tension following Brexit, many Europeans remain open to welcoming Britain back into the EU framework.
Support was especially strong in countries such as the Netherlands and Denmark, where about three-quarters of respondents backed British re-entry. The survey also found that support for closer UK-EU ties extended beyond traditional pro-European voters, including some supporters of far-right and Eurosceptic parties.
In Britain, the poll points to an equally significant change in mood. Three-quarters of British respondents said they wanted a closer relationship with the EU, while 66% supported stronger trade and economic ties. Perhaps most strikingly, 63% said they would accept freedom of movement if it helped secure better trade relations — a major shift from one of the central arguments of the 2016 Leave campaign.
The results come as Brexit returns to the center of British political debate ahead of the 10th anniversary of the referendum. For many voters, the practical costs of leaving the EU have become clearer over time, particularly in trade, travel, labor mobility and economic confidence. Recent polling has also shown growing regret about Brexit, with more Britons saying they would now support rejoining than remaining outside the bloc.
Still, a return to the EU would be politically and legally complex. Rejoining would require negotiations with all member states and would likely involve difficult questions over budget contributions, regulatory alignment, the European Court of Justice and freedom of movement. Britain’s previous special arrangements — including staying outside the euro and the Schengen travel area — would also become part of any future debate.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has so far ruled out rejoining the EU, the single market or the customs union, arguing instead for a pragmatic “reset” in relations with Brussels. His government has emphasized cooperation on trade, security and youth mobility while avoiding a direct reversal of Brexit.
But the new polling suggests that public opinion may be moving faster than political leadership. What was once seen as a settled constitutional break is increasingly being reconsidered by voters who want fewer barriers between Britain and Europe.
For the EU, the survey indicates that Brexit has not produced a lasting hostility toward the UK. For Britain, it shows that the debate is no longer only about whether Brexit was right or wrong. It is now about how much separation the country can afford — and whether a future generation may choose to rebuild the bridge that was broken in 2016.
