UK and EU leaders want a reset after Trump’s win — and now voters want it too

As U.Ok. 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 keeping with a brand new survey.

Nearly all of Britons (55%) assume the U.Ok. ought to realign with the EU underneath a second Trump time period, and prioritize stronger relations with Brussels over the U.S. (17%), analysis from the European Council on International Relations confirmed Thursday. There was additionally reluctance for Britain to observe Trump’s lead on main international coverage points reminiscent of China and Ukraine.

On the continent, the sensation is mutual, with pluralities of respondents throughout EU nations — and Germany and Poland specifically — supporting nearer ties with the U.Ok.

The research, performed within the wake of the U.S. election, seeks to offer the newest image of public opinion on Brexit, greater than eight years after the landmark vote.

The discharge comes days after U.Ok. 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 now not dwell on the earth of Brexit. That world got here to an finish on Nov. 5, 2024,” Mark Leonard, ECFR co-founder and international coverage professional, mentioned throughout an occasion in London to announce the findings.

“There’s a placing and widely-held want on either side of the channel to get nearer collectively,” he added.

The survey — which polled greater than 9,000 individuals throughout the U.Ok., France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain — confirmed a selected willingness for either side to cooperate extra intently on commerce and safety.

Within the U.Ok., nearly all of respondents mentioned they noticed improved ties as aiding with their key priorities round migration, safety and the financial system. In the meantime, respondents in Europe mentioned they had been open to granting the U.Ok. “particular entry” to the EU single market and entry to the bloc’s analysis packages in alternate for larger safety cooperation.

Each side additionally expressed a willingness to contemplate free motion of individuals in alternate for stronger financial ties.

Trump’s Nov. 5 election has added to a way of unease in Europe, notably round nationwide safety and the impression of potential tariffs, with the president-elect beforehand warning that the EU may very well be topic to new commerce levies to deal with the numerous commerce imbalance.

The U.Ok., 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, instructed CNBC that it was anticipated — and within the U.Ok.’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, it is a good time,” she mentioned, noting that the present backdrop may truly enhance the U.Ok.’s place when looking for improved relations with the EU. “This can be a time the place there’s maybe leverage (for the U.Ok.) to ask for a bit extra.”

Thorning-Schmidt, who was prime minister between 2011 to 2015, acknowledged, nevertheless, that there may very well be some “binary” decisions forward as either side search to place themselves underneath a Trump presidency.

“If there are tariffs coming our means, will we retaliate? Is that a solution?” Thorning-Schmidt mentioned.

“If we’re requested to align extra with the U.S. when it comes to their China coverage, that may very well be a binary selection as properly,” she continued.

“And if the U.Ok. is by some means compelled to decide on between the U.S. and EU — which I do not assume they are going to — that is maybe a binary selection.”