After Trump's victory, both UK and EU leaders desire a reset, and this desire is now shared by voters.

• As leaders from the U.K. and EU work to improve relations with President-elect Trump, public opinion seems to be changing.
• A survey conducted on Thursday revealed that most Britons believe the U.K. should prioritize its relationship with Brussels over the U.S. under a second Trump term.
• According to Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former prime minister of Denmark, both the U.K. and EU could face "binary" choices under an assertive Trump presidency.

A survey indicates that as U.K. and EU leaders aim to improve relations with President-elect Donald Trump, public opinion is leaning towards stronger ties within the continent.

A survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations revealed that 55% of Britons believe the U.K. should rejoin the EU under a second Trump term, while 17% prioritize stronger ties with Brussels over the U.S. Additionally, there was a lack of enthusiasm among Britons to follow Trump's lead on major foreign policy issues such as China and Ukraine.

In the EU, there is a mutual sentiment among respondents, with a majority in Germany and Poland favoring closer ties with the UK.

A recent study aims to present the current state of public opinion on Brexit, over eight years following the historic vote.

Since Britain officially left the EU in 2020, the release has been made, and U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves met with her EU counterparts in Brussels to discuss renewed relations.

Mark Leonard, ECFR co-founder and foreign policy expert, stated during a London event that the world of Brexit has ended on Nov. 5, 2024.

He stated that there is a mutual desire on both sides of the channel to come closer together.

A survey conducted among over 9,000 individuals in the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain revealed a high level of willingness from both sides to intensify cooperation on trade and security matters.

In the U.K., most respondents believed that better relations would aid their main concerns regarding migration, security, and the economy. On the other hand, European respondents were willing to offer the U.K. "special access" to the EU single market and access to its research programs in exchange for enhanced security cooperation.

Both sides agreed to consider free movement of people in exchange for stronger economic ties.

Trump tariffs create 'binary' choices

The upcoming election of Trump in November has heightened concerns in Europe about national security and the potential impact of tariffs, as the president-elect had previously threatened to impose new trade levies on the EU to address the significant trade imbalance.

The U.K. hopes that its special relationship with the U.S. and Trump's affinity for Brexit will spare it from the most punitive measures due to its smaller trade imbalance with the U.S.

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, a former Danish prime minister and ECFR board trustee, stated to CNBC that it was anticipated and in the U.K.'s best interest to maintain a close relationship with the U.S. However, she emphasized that this should not hinder the development of strong ties with the EU as well.

""This is a good time to reset relations with the EU as the current backdrop may improve the U.K.'s position," she said, adding that there is leverage for the U.K. to ask for more."

Thorning-Schmidt, who served as prime minister from 2011 to 2015, acknowledged that there may be some "binary" choices ahead as both sides attempt to position themselves under a Trump presidency.

Thorning-Schmidt posed the question: "If tariffs are imposed on us, should we respond with retaliation? Is that a viable solution?"

She stated that if we are asked to align more with the U.S. in terms of their China policy, it would be a binary choice.

"If the U.K. is forced to choose between the U.S. and EU, it may be a binary decision."