BREXIT has little impact on positive support for the EU in Ireland
2016.12.30New research from RED C Research in conjunction with their partners at WIN/Gallup International across Europe, has found that despite the UK voting to start the process to leave the EU in June 2016, Ireland remains one of most pro-European countries in Europe.
When asked how they would vote if their was referendum on membership of the European union, 80% of Irish citizens suggest the would vote to remain in the EU, slightly higher than recorded in 2015.
The EU appears to be relatively secure elsewhere in Europe as well, as the percentage of people in Germany, France and Belgium who would vote to leave has fallen from 12 months ago; those in Denmark and Sweden are also significantly less likely to vote to leave compared with a year ago. However, there has been a significant increase in support to leave the EU in Finland (up from 29% to 40%) and in Greece (up from 38% to 46%). The large increase in support for leaving seen in Italy last year has been maintained in 2016 with 40% (down from 42%) preferring to leave.
When the study asked those in the UK how they would vote in a second referendum 54% said they would prefer to be a part of the EU and 46% preferring to remain out (down from the 54% recorded in our poll 12 months ago). Along with Ireland, the Spanish (with 20% voting to leave) are the most pro EU of those polled.
While Ireland has spent 2016 getting used to a new politics, the people certainly appear to believe it is working. By some distance the Irish are the most likely to state they feel the country is moving in the right direction. Our survey reveals 62% of the Irish public believe the country is heading in the right direction. The next most optimistic country is Iceland (57%). However for most in Europe, the view is that their countries are heading in the wrong direction, most noticeably in Greece (89%), France (82%) and Italy (79%).
Q If there was a referendum tomorrow in your country on whether (COUNTRY) should remain a part of the European Union, would you vote to stay in the European Union or to leave the European Union?
PERCENTAGE WHO WOULD VOTE TO LEAVE THE EU (Excl. Don’t Know)
|
2016 n= |
AUS 1000 |
BEL 1000 |
BUL 803 |
DEN 1002 |
FIN 1000 |
FRA 1000 |
GER 1000 |
GRE 1000 |
IRE 963 |
IT 1014 |
ICE 1065 |
NED | SPA 1013 |
SWE 1000 |
UK 1000 |
| 2014 | – | 25% | – | 37% | 28% | 35% | 27% | 39% | 23% | 25% | – | 42% | 21% | – | 51% |
| 2015 | – | 33% | 18% | 39% | 29% | 35% | 28% | 38% | 22% | 42% | – | 41% | 21% | 40% | 54% |
| 2016 | 33% | 26% | 26% | 25% | 40% | 32% | 25% | 46% | 20% | 40% | 65%* | – | 20% | 29% | 46% |
*Since Iceland is not a member the question asked whether they would join if given a vote. 65% said they would prefer to stay outside the EU.
Q In general do you think that things in your country are heading in the right direction or the wrong direction?
(Excl. Don’t Know)
|
2016 n= |
AUS 849 |
BEL 768 |
BUL 626 |
DEN 796 |
FIN 778 |
FRA 900 |
GER 875 |
GREE 903 |
ICE 763 |
IRE 820 |
ITA 864 |
NOR 801 |
SPA 890 |
SWE 820 |
UK 827 |
| RIGHT DIRECTION | 23% | 22% | 29% | 32% | 27% | 18% | 38% | 11% | 57% | 62% | 21% | 54% | 35% | 29% | 48% |
| WRONG DIRECTION | 77% | 78% | 71% | 68% | 73% | 82% | 62% | 89% | 43% | 38% | 79% | 46% | 65% | 71% | 52% |
Sample Size and Mode of Field Work:
RED C interviewed a representative sample of 1000 adults online throughout Ireland between 27th – 30th November 2016. Fieldwork in other countries was also conducted online among nationally representative samples of adults from the 25th November – 7th December 2016. The final data has been weighted in each country to ensure it is representative of the total adult population
