The Brexit chaos undermines the desire to leave the EU Olena Selenska at the WEF – the moving mission of the Ukrainian First Lady

Surprisingly, the British economy grew by 0.2 percent in November. However, the kingdom should not be too proud of it. The football World Cup is responsible for the growth, which has fueled consumption and advertising, according to the BBC. However, in a three-month comparison, total economic output declined.

Gross domestic product in Great Britain is still below pre-corona levels. This is due to inflation, the strike wave – and Brexit, the departure from the European Union that was decided in 2016 and finally completed at the end of 2020. It did not bring golden times, but according to economists it caused lasting damage to the economy.

The chaotic exit process was accompanied by political turbulence. Rishi Sunak is the fifth Conservative prime minister since the vote in June 2016. This is not only because of Brexit, but the unrest in the UK has noticeably dampened the desire to leave in the 27 remaining EU member states.

Le Pen’s promise

After the referendum, there were fears of a copycat effect in the EU. In 2017, Marine Le Pen promised a vote on Frexit if she won the French presidential election. There was also speculation about a Grexit, an Italexit or a Polexit. These scenarios have never been able to achieve a majority.

Today there are fewer than ever. In all EU Member States, the number of supporters of exit has fallen, in some cases sharply. This is according to the latest edition of the European Social Survey (ESS) of the City of London University. The survey has been conducted every two years since 2001 in 30 European countries (including Switzerland).

Don’t feel like leaving

The sharpest drop can be seen in Finland, where the share of supporters of leaving the EU has almost halved since the 2016/17 survey, from just under 29 percent to just over 15 percent. Even in Italy, where many scapegoat the EU and especially the euro for its notorious economic weakness, it fell from 30 to 20 percent.

The share is particularly low in Poland and Hungary, although or rather because their right-wing governments like to polemicize against Brussels. According to the ESS survey, most support for leaving is found in the Czech Republic. But even there, in a hypothetical vote, 71 percent would vote to stay in the EU.

Greeks are at odds with Brussels

According to the Guardian, experts attribute the growing acceptance of EU membership alongside Brexit to two main reasons: the corona pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The joint purchase of vaccines ensured that no country was disadvantaged. And the Russian offensive war strengthened the community of values.

The ESS study is consistent with a study published last October by the US Pew Research Center in 19 countries (10 of which are from the EU). It also shows that the EU is viewed more favorably than ever before. Only in Greece is the number of positive and negative votes almost equal at 50:49 percent.

Right-wing populists are silent

The Greeks seem not to have digested the harsh austerity dictate during the debt crisis. According to the ESS study, 87 percent would vote in favor in a Grexit referendum. At first glance, this is only surprising, because the country, which depends on tourism, does not want to miss out on the benefits of membership and the euro.

The European Union may be a matter of the heart for few Europeans, but its virtues are increasingly appreciated, especially when we look at the British experience after leaving. Even right-wing populists in many countries have understood this. Their calls for an exit have become quieter or stopped altogether.

British want to go back

Marine Le Pen is no longer talking about Frexit, even though observers doubt she has given up on this goal. The change in Italy is especially spectacular. In last year’s election campaign, post-fascist Giorgia Meloni heavily defeated Brussels and countries such as Germany and France. As Prime Minister, she sounds very different now.

A visit by the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to Rome on Monday took place in a warm atmosphere. This may also be due to the fact that Italy is benefiting from the Corona reconstruction fund like no other EU country. But even in Britain, more than 50 percent would prefer to reverse Brexit, according to the latest polls.