4 in 10 (43%) Britons think that Britain\u2019s interests are similar to the EU\u2019s, the highest since polling began in 2022, and up 11ppts since 2023. This compares to 15% who consider Britain\u2019s interests to be similar to the USA\u2019s (down from 33% in 2023)There has been a similar change in France and Germany, where 40% (+22ppts since 2023) and 35% (+15) respectively think that Britain and the EU have similar interests, but only 8% (-11ppts) and 8% (-13 ppts) each think the EU shares the same interests as the US.6 in 10 (63%) Britons say that it\u2019s likely that Britain and the EU will have a close relationship, an increase of 15ppts compared to May 2023. \u00a0Optimism is also increasing in France (+10ppts to 73% likely) and in Germany (+13ppts to 71%).Around half in all three countries think Brexit was the wrong decision for both the UK and the EU.<\/p>\n
The Great Realignment: EU vs. USA<\/p>\n
The research shows a steady increase in the proportion of Britons who feel the UK’s interests are similar to those of the EU, contrasted by a growing sense of distance from the United States:<\/p>\n
Alignment with the EU: 43% of Britons now believe the Britain\u2019s interests are completely or mostly the same as the EU\u2019s, a significant increase from 32% in May 2023 and 29% in June 2022. This is nearly 3 times the share of those who think Britain\u2019s interests are at odds with the EU (16%).Friction with the USA: Conversely, 45% of Britons now believe Britain\u2019s interests are “at odds” with those of the US\u2014a near-doubling of the 23% recorded in January 2025. Only 15% now see the UK and US interests as similar.China: Views on China remain consistently low, with 46% of the public believing British interests are at odds with Beijing, and just 10% who think their interests are similar.<\/p>\n
The Legacy of Brexit<\/p>\n
Few think the original decision to leave has proved a clear success, and most think it was the wrong decision for both the UK and the EU \u2013 however views remain deeply divided along previous voting lines:<\/p>\n
Right or wrong decision for the UK: Just over half of Britons (54%) now believe that Britain was “wrong to leave” the European Union, compared to 31% who believe it was the “right decision.” However, among those who voted to Leave in 2016, 71% still maintain that it was the right decision, even if they express dissatisfaction with how it has been implemented by successive governments.Right or wrong decision for the EU: A similar share consider the UK\u2019s decision to leave the EU as the wrong decision for the EU (55%), with 1 in 4 saying it was the right decision (24%).Success vs. failure: When asked to take everything into account, 52% of British adults describe Brexit as more of a “failure” than a success.<\/p>\n
Optimism for a new relationship?<\/p>\n
Importance of the relationship: 82% of Britons think it\u2019s important to maintain a close relationship with the EU, in line with what was seen in May 2023Likelihood of cooperation: More than 6 in 10 (63%) think it\u2019s likely that Britain and the EU will have a close relationship, marking a 15ppt increase compared to May 2023 (48%). This is the highest share since this question was first asked in April 2019.Confidence in outcomes: The public are divided as to their confidence that Britain and the EU will work together to achieve a satisfactory outcome on their top priorities, with around 4 in 10 each saying they are confident (44%) and not confident (41%). \u00a0Nevertheless, confidence has risen 10ppts over the last year.<\/p>\n
Top Priorities for the Relationship: trade, defence, crime and immigration<\/p>\n
Improving the EU-UK trade agreement is the top priority for the relationship for Britons, mentioned by 31%. \u00a0This is followed by working with the EU to reduce illegal immigration into Britain, at 26%.<\/p>\n
When looking at specific policy areas, Britons see the strongest common ground with Europe on matters of defence, safety, trade and environmental goals:<\/p>\n
Crime & terrorism: 53% of Britons believe the UK and EU have similar interests in preventing and detecting crime.Climate change: 40% see alignment on reaching Net Zero targets and reducing carbon emissions.Defence & Russia: Around half feel interests are aligned regarding the response to the conflict in the Middle East (50%), Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine (48%), and general defence policy (50%).Trade: 40% see similar interests in increasing trade (up 8ppts since 2022), with just 14% considering interests at odds.<\/p>\n
Despite the overall shift toward the EU, significant areas of perceived conflict remain, particularly regarding borders and fishing rights:<\/p>\n
Illegal immigration: Only 1 in 4 (25%) Britons believe that UK and EU interests are similar when it comes to managing illegal immigration across the English Channel, while 37% see them as “at odds.”Fishing rights: This is also contentious, with 33% of the public believing that UK and EU interests are at odds regarding EU access to British fishing waters, and just under 1 in 5 (18%) thinking that interests are the same.<\/p>\n
European Perspectives: Alignment from France and Germany<\/p>\n
While British public opinion has shifted toward the European Union, a corresponding trend is visible in Europe\u2019s two largest economies. Data from France and Germany indicates a growing belief that the EU and the UK share a common strategic path, particularly as both nations perceive a widening gap with the United States.<\/p>\n
Shared Strategic Interests and US Friction<\/p>\n
EU-UK alignment: 40% of French adults and 35% of German adults now believe the EU and UK mostly share the same interests, a significant increase from May 2023 levels of 18% and 20% respectively.Distance from the US: More than half in both France (54%) and Germany (53%) now view the EU\u2019s interests as being “at odds” with those of the United States. \u00a0Distance from China is even further, at 62% and 67% respectively thinking EU interests are at odds. Crime and defence: Similar to the British public, the strongest areas of perceived alignment for the French and Germans are in preventing crime and terrorism (60% and 57% respectively) and defence\/security policy (55% and 51%).As in Britain, improving the EU-UK trade agreement is the clear top priority for the relationship in Germany (35%), and joint first in France (25%).Within France, trade is joined by improving military alliances as the most important priority (25%), followed by crime and terrorism (21%). For Germans, the next highest priorities are improving military alliances (20%) and working closely on the prevention of crime and terrorism (20%).<\/p>\n
Post-Brexit Optimism<\/p>\n
Importance of the relationship: 83% of French adults and 76% of German adults believe it is important for the EU to maintain a close relationship with the UK, each up 16ppts since 2023.Likelihood of cooperation: Optimism regarding a close future relationship is high, with 73% in France and 71% in Germany viewing a close EU-UK bond as “likely”, up 10 and 13ppts respectively since 2023.Confidence in outcomes: Roughly two-thirds of respondents in both countries (65% in France and 63% in Germany) express confidence that the EU and UK will work together to achieve satisfactory outcomes on top priorities.<\/p>\n
The Legacy of Brexit<\/p>\n
Right or wrong decision for the UK: Public opinion in both countries leans toward viewing Brexit as the “wrong decision” for the UK, held by 46% in France and 57% of those in Germany.Right or wrong decision for the EU: Similarly, 48% of those in France and 56% of those in Germany think the UK\u2019s decision to leave the EU was the wrong decision for the EU.Success vs. failure: When asked to take everything into account, 51% of Germans and 41% of French adults view Brexit as more of a “failure” than a success.<\/p>\n
Notes to Editors:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ipsos interviewed a representative sample of 1,098 adults aged 18-75 across Great Britain, 1,098 in France, and 1,079 in Germany. Polling was conducted online between 3-7 April 2026. \u00a0Data are weighted to match the profile of the population. All polls are subject to a wide range of potential sources of error.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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