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Parliamentary questions
2 July 2010
E-4901/2010
Question for written answer
to the Commission
Rule 117
Nick Griffin (NI)

 Subject: Hostile view of British EU membership
 Answer(s) 

According to a recent opinion poll (Angus Reid Public Opinion Poll), 51 % of UK respondents say EU membership has been moderately negative (26 %) or very negative (25 %) for the UK. 7 % of Britons say the EU has been very positive for the UK, and 31 % regard it as moderately positive. If a referendum on the UK’s permanence in the EU were to be called, 42 % would vote in favour of pulling out, while 35 % would vote to remain. A large majority of Britons (79 %) would vote against abandoning sterling as the national currency. Only 9 % would welcome the euro.

In respect of the UK, will the Commission kindly advise:

1. Does it regularly monitor British public opinion of the Commission’s standing in the EU?
2. Does it regularly monitor the British public’s views with regard to British membership of the EU?
3. What means does the Commission employ to monitor such opinion?
4. What action does the Commission employ to endeavour to reverse negative British public opinion?
5. How often does the issue of negative British public opinion arise during internal Commission discussions on the progress of European political, social and economic integration?
6. Given that the three main political parties in the UK support membership of the EU and continuously speak in favour of membership, how does the Commission explain the negative sentiments of the British public?
7. Does the relatively negative view (in comparison with other member nations) of the EU on the part of the British public cause the Commission concern?

 OJ C 191 E, 01/07/2011
Last updated: 14 July 2010Legal notice