More than half of Britons want to leave EU, poll finds

LONDON

Britain shows the highest level of support for leaving the European Union, according to a survey of some countries in the 28-member bloc.

More than half (54 percent) of the respondents would vote to leave the EU once those who have not yet made up their minds (21 percent) are discounted, ORB International found.

Although Britain was the only country with a majority wanting to leave the bloc, the survey found significant shifts in other countries, including Italy where 42% percent of people want to leave compared with a quarter last year.

Johnny Heald, ORB International managing director, said: "These results show that the U.K. really is the black sheep of the family.

"Over the last 12 months significantly more of us have felt further removed from Europe (38%) than closer to Europe (13%).

"The Prime Minister’s negotiations with his European colleagues appear to be crucial in avoiding Brexit."

An in-out referendum is expected to be held in Britain later this year after the Prime Minister David Cameron concludes a renegotiation of the country’s membership terms.

The ORB survey also found movement in the opposite direction: nearly a third (62%) of Greeks want to stay inside the E.U., an increase from 53% a year ago. Support for membership was highest in Romania, where it was backed by four in every five people.

ORB surveyed 15,500 adults across Europe.