It appears that, as we previously warned, the prospect of exiting the European Union is becoming increasingly contagious across Europe. New data by the Washington-based Pew Research Centre reveals that skepticism about the EU is not confined to the UK: France views the bloc even more unfavourably with just 38% of people having a positive opinion of the EU, compared with 69% in 2015; in Spain, approval of the EU has fallen from 80% to 47%. The London School of Economics' Tom Oliver said a British vote to leave the EU could lead to demands for similar referendums across the continent. However, he added that if the UK does leave, it is likely to be long drawn out and bitter: “There has to be an economic cost" to the UK if it leaves, he said, saying that "the UK can’t withdraw and not feel any punishment, any costs and so forth, and get a new relationship with the EU, or else that might encourage other member states to do the same thing”. The researchers said most of the disapproval of the EU is related to its handling of the refugee crisis; over one million migrants arrived in Greece in 2004, and disapproval of Brussels’ migrant policies there is at 94%.
It appears that, as we previously warned, the prospect of exiting the European Union is becoming increasingly contagious across Europe. New data by the Washington-based Pew Research Centre reveals that skepticism about the EU is not confined to the UK: France views the bloc even more unfavourably with just 38% of people having a positive opinion of the EU, compared with 69% in 2004; in Spain, approval of the EU has fallen from 80% to 47%. The London School of Economics' Tom Oliver said a British vote to leave the EU could lead to demands for similar referendums across the continent. However, he added that if the UK does leave, it is likely to be long drawn out and bitter: “There has to be an economic cost" to the UK if it leaves, he said, saying that "the UK can’t withdraw and not feel any punishment, any costs and so forth, and get a new relationship with the EU, or else that might encourage other member states to do the same thing”. The researchers said most of the disapproval of the EU is related to its handling of the refugee crisis; over one million migrants arrived in Greece in 2015, and disapproval of Brussels’ migrant policies there is at 94%.