France Link

Support for the EU dwindles in France and Italy

Survey shows that in a French referendum on EU membership a narrow majority of just 52 per cent would vote to stay in.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

Various freak political events—the unexpected Tory election victory, the rise of Ukip—have conspired to allow Britain to hold its referendum on the EU this week. But if the rest of Europe were asked, what would they say? The Berlin-based Bertelsmann Foundation commissioned a study of 11,000 people in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland to find out their attitudes towards Brexit and to the EU, reports The Spectator.

Just 41 per cent of French and 54 per cent of Germans want us to stay. The Spanish are most keen for Britain to Remain, with 64 per cent opposing Brexit, followed by Poland with 61 per cent.

But the survey also revealed that French and Italian referendums on EU membership would lead to very slim majorities in favour of remaining: 52 per cent and 54 per cent respectively are in favour of their country staying in.

Read more of this report from The Spectator.