#Brexit: Poll shows EU-27 citizens put their interests ahead of any future deal with the UK

A poll commissioned by the European People’s Party Group, found that 78% of Europeans want the primary objective for Brexit negotiations to be protecting the good future of the remaining EU27, rather than building a new economic relationship with the UK.

The poll was conducted in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and Sweden and involved online questions with one thousand participants in each country.

“The EPP Group has always made it clear that our priority in the negotiations with the UK on Brexit was to defend the interests of EU citizens. The results of the opinion poll show that a large majority of EU citizens support this approach. This reinforces the position we took at an early stage. In early 2019, the European Parliament will have the huge responsibility of saying Yes or No to the divorce agreement with the UK. We are the only institution directly elected by the European citizens. When examining the conditions of Brexit, our first priority will always be to secure a good future for them”, said Manfred Weber.

The chart would suggest that there is broad agreement between very different states. It also suggests that the possible divisions between EU-27 members hinted at by Brexit minister David Davies might not exist.

On negotiating priorities, the future well being of the UK was - unsurprisingly - nowhere near as important as the future of the EU-27.

The poll focused on Ireland in particular and found that 93% of Irish respondents agreed that, in order to protect Irish interests, the EU should work closer together, with Fine Gael (members of the EPP group) voters being the most pro-European.

While the importance of the Good Friday Agreement not being undermined played on the minds of Irish voters, the economy, trade and employment were greater causes for concern. Unsurprisingly, this was less important for young voters who would not have experience of 'The Troubles' in Northern Ireland.

The poll carried out by Red C also looked to the future and what the EU’s priorities should be post Brexit:

The poll showed that the public are eager that the negotiators and the EU27 take a long-term perspective.

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