Global Vision/ICM poll - European Attitudes

Global Vision/ICM poll on European attitudes to the possibility of Britain negotiating a looser relationship with the EU

In April 2008 Global Vision commissioned ICM polls on French, German and Polish views on two issues connected with the possibility of Britain’s renegotiating a new relationship with the EU based on trade & cooperation, but opting out of political & economic union. Overall, attitudes varied between “New Europe” and “Old Europe”.

In the first question, the respondents were asked whether their country should have a similar relationship to Britain’s, if Britain renegotiated a new relationship with the EU based on trade & cooperation, but opting out of political & economic union. Nearly a half (48%) of Polish respondents favoured a looser relationship with the EU, based on trade and cooperation, whilst opting out of political and economic, whilst less than 30% of the French (29%) and the Germans (26%) supported it.

In the second question, respondents were asked, if Britain does not wish to pursue further political integration, should Britain have a special, looser relationship or should it leave. 38% of Poles said Britain should be allowed to have the special relationship whilst 36% said Britain should leave the EU. The corresponding data for France were 24% (allow special relationship) and 65% (leave) and for Germany were 40% (allow special relationship) and 48% (leave).

Results

Question 1, If the UK were to negotiate a looser relationship with the EU based on trade & cooperation, but opting out of political & economic union, do you think your country should have a similar relationship with the EU? Responses (%)

	Poland	France	Germany
(i) Yes, it should	48	29	26
(ii) No, it should not	26	59	56
(iii) Other (don’t specify)	1	4	3
(iv) Don’t know	26	9	15
Balance (i) – (ii)	22	-30	-30

Question 2, If the UK does not want to take part in any further EU political integration, do you think that the EU should allow the UK to have a special, looser relationship with the EU? Responses (%)

	France	Germany	Poland
(i) Yes, we should accept this	24	40	38
(ii) No, we should insist the UK stays a full part of the EU or leaves	65	48	36
(iii) Other (don’t specify)	3	2	1
(iv) Don’t know	7	10	25
Balance (i) – (ii)	-41	-8	2

Download the full ICM polls: France; Germany; Poland

Technical notes

France ICM interviewed a random sample of 1004 adults aged 14+ from its telephone panel between 8^th -10^th April 2008. Surveys were conducted across France and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.

Germany ICM interviewed a random sample of 1012 adults aged 14+ from its telephone panel between 7^th -10^th April 2008. Surveys were conducted across Germany and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.

Poland ICM interviewed a random sample of 1074 adults aged 14+ from its face to face panel between 11^th -15^th April 2008. Surveys were conducted across Poland and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.

RL, May 2008