UK and EU leaders need a reset after Trump’s victory – and now voters need it too

As UK and EU leaders search to reset relationships earlier than the president-elect Donald TrumpWith the return of the White Home to the White Home, public opinion 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%) suppose the UK ought to realign with the EU beneath a second Trump time period and prioritize stronger relations with Brussels over the US (17%) , in keeping with a research by the European Council on International Relations revealed Thursday. Britain was additionally reluctant to comply with Trump’s lead on main overseas coverage points reminiscent of China and Ukraine.

On the continent, the sensation is mutual, with a plurality of respondents in EU international locations – and Germany and Poland particularly – favoring nearer ties with the UK.

The research, carried out following the American elections, goals to supply the newest image of public opinion on Brexit, greater than eight years after this historic vote.

This publication comes days after British Finance Minister Rachel Reeves spoke about renewing relations with Brussels on Monday throughout a visit to fulfill her European counterparts – the first meeting of this type since Britain formally left the bloc in 2020.

“We now not dwell on the earth of Brexit. That world ended on November 5, 2024,” Mark Leonard, ECFR co-founder and overseas coverage skilled, mentioned at an occasion in London to announce the conclusions.

“There’s a hanging and broadly shared need on each side of the Channel to get nearer,” he added.

The survey – performed amongst greater than 9,000 individuals within the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain – confirmed a specific need on each side to cooperate extra intently on commerce and safety.

Within the UK, the vast majority of respondents mentioned they noticed improved ties as a method to meet their prime priorities on migration, safety and the financial system. In the meantime, respondents in Europe mentioned they have been prepared to provide the UK “particular entry” to the EU’s single market and entry to the bloc’s analysis applications in return for higher safety cooperation. .

Each side additionally expressed their willingness to think about the free motion of individuals in change for stronger financial ties.

Trump’s election on November 5 added to a feeling of unease in Europesignificantly relating to nationwide safety and the influence of potential tariffs, with the president-elect beforehand warning that the EU might be topic to new commerce levies to handle the numerous commerce imbalance.

The UK, for its half, whose commerce imbalance with america is way much less, could also be hoping that its “privileged relationship” on the opposite facet of the Atlantic – and that of Trump affinity for Brexit — are sufficient to spare him essentially the most punitive measures.

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former prime minister of Denmark and ECFR board trustee, advised CNBC it was the plan – and within the UK’s pursuits – to proceed “such a detailed relationship as potential with america. However she added that this could not rule out shut ties with the EU both.

“If we’re on the lookout for a reset, now could be the proper time,” she mentioned, emphasizing that the present context may truly enhance the UK’s place in searching for improved relations with the EU. “It is a second the place there may be maybe leverage (for the UK) to ask for somewhat extra.”

Thorning-Schmidt, who served as prime minister between 2011 and 2015, acknowledged, nonetheless, that there might be “binary” selections forward as each events search to place themselves beneath a Trump presidency.

“If tariffs are imposed on us, will we retaliate? Is {that a} response?” » mentioned Thorning-Schmidt.

“If we’re requested to align extra with US coverage in direction of China, that may be a binary alternative,” she continued.

“And if the UK is pressured to decide on between the US and the EU – which I don’t suppose it would – it might be a binary alternative.”