Brexit came at a time when distrust in the European Union was high across the continent. Today, the prospect of joining the EU is popular in many of its neighboring countries, including the U.K., Big Think said in a report.
‘’While some countries still avoid membership for a variety of reasons, support for joining the European Union in several of the EU’s direct and indirect neighbors is fairly widespread. British support now stands at 52% — exactly the share of votes that approved Britain’s exit from the EU in the referendum.
Georgia (79%) and Ukraine (77%) are also pro-joining and not just for economic reasons. They view EU membership as a shield against Russian interference in their internal affairs. The same motivation will also be at play in Moldova, although to a smaller extent (61%). In many, strong minorities favoring membership see their path obstructed by blocs opposed to the EU for various economic and geopolitical reasons. These include Serbia (44%), Turkey (49%), and Armenia (38%). Pro-EU sentiment is even smaller in Belarus (32%) and Russia (8%).
