
10 days · 11 summary articles
Six years after Brexit, 66% of citizens across 13 EU member states now support the United Kingdom’s return to the European Union, according to a survey published today by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) . The poll, conducted in May 2026, marks a sharp reversal from the immediate post-referendum period and reflects growing European recognition of the economic and political costs of the UK’s departure. In parallel, a separate survey cited by LBC reveals that 75% of Britons now favour closer ties with the EU, underscoring a domestic consensus that has emerged despite the formal split .
Financial markets have taken notice. New data from Brussels Morning indicates that London’s financial sector has largely adapted to the post-Brexit environment, with banks, insurers, investment firms, and fintech companies reporting renewed investor confidence . The report, published today, suggests that the City’s ability to attract global capital has stabilised after years of uncertainty, though it cautions that structural shifts—such as the loss of passporting rights—continue to shape deal flows. The Financial Times echoed this assessment in an editorial arguing that while the UK must rebuild its EU ties, an immediate bid to rejoin the bloc would be a “diversion” that distracts from pragmatic cooperation .
The political fallout from Brexit remains uneven. In Belfast, tensions have flared in recent weeks, with local media linking a surge in far-right activity to the UK’s departure from the EU . Analysts note that the absence of EU oversight has emboldened radical groups, while mainstream parties have struggled to articulate a coherent response. Meanwhile, Estonian officials have publicly stated that Brexit has left the UK “behind the rest of Europe,” conceding that while the move granted London some flexibility, it has ultimately harmed the British economy .
Against this backdrop, the ECFR survey suggests that public opinion in both the UK and the EU is coalescing around a shared realisation: Brexit’s economic and social consequences demand a new framework for cooperation. Whether this sentiment translates into formal negotiations remains uncertain, but the data points to a continent increasingly willing to reconsider the costs of separation.
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