UK shows least support for EU in poll of member states

The UK's attitude towards the European Union has hit an all-time low, a new survey suggests today. Britain is least enthused about its membership than any other EU nation according to the poll.

Only 34 per cent said EU membership is a "good thing" - a fall of 8 per cent since the last poll. At the other end of the scale Ireland emerges as the most satisfied nation in the EU club, with a 78 per cent approval rating for membership.

The latest "Eurobarometer" poll of EU opinion also shows only 39 per cent in the UK think the country has benefited at all from being in the EU. And a mere 28 per cent believed the EU has a general positive image.

Not surprisingly, therefore, the poll shows little UK trust in the key EU institutions: once again the UK being exposed as the most eurosceptic nation, with only a quarter expressing trust in either the European Commission - the EU civil service - or the European Parliament.

The average support for membership across the 25 countries now stands at 53 per cent - a fail of 2 per cent compared with the last poll.

Commission Vice-President Margot Wallstrom, who has beefed up the Commission's public relations operation in London in a bid to counteract growing euroscepticism, looked on the bright side of the poll's findings today:

"This survey shows that, on the eve of the fiftieth anniversary of the Rome Treaties (which launched the modern-day EU), citizens clearly identify the Union with universal values like human rights, peace and democracy. Support is growing for the reform of the way the Union works, and people have high expectations about the EU."

But she conceded: "The survey shows also that the EU must provide more leadership on explaining the benefit" (of continued EU expansion)."

Percentage of citizens who believe EU membership is "a good thing":

Ireland - 78 per cent

Luxembourg - 74 per cent

Netherlands- 72 per cent

Belgium - 69 per cent

Spain - 62 per cent

Lithuania - 62 per cent

Poland - 62 per cent

Denmark - 61 per cent

Slovakia - 61 per cent

Germany - 58 per cent

Greece - 57 per cent

Estonia - 56 per cent

Italy - 52 per cent

Czech Rep - 51 per cent

France - 50 per cent

Portugal - 50 per cent

Sweden - 49 per cent

Cyprus - 47 per cent

Malta - 45 per cent

Latvia - 43 per cent

Finland - 39 per cent

Hungary - 39 per cent

Austria - 36 per cent

UK - 34 per cent