The survey of 10,992 European citizens, carried out by Germany’s Bertelsmann Foundation, shows that while a majority of continental Europeans across all age groups are in favour of Britain remaining a member of the EU, the support is not overwhelmingly high, at 54%.
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The Electoral Commission is seeking to avoid a repeat of the 2010 election, where hundreds of queuing voters were prevented from voting after polling stations closed.
“For modern Great Britain to thrive and prosper we must work with, not against, our European partners; we must keep our seat at Europe’s top table and help shape its destiny; our strong, clear voice must be heard inside Europe, not be shouted from the sidelines”.
Among those most alarmed are strategists in the United States and at North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the transatlantic defense alliance, who are convinced that a British vote to leave the European Union would weaken the unity of the West and its resolve to tackle security challenges.
“If Europe, which provides half of global development assistance, is fractured it will be the world’s poor who will suffer”.
With four days to go it seems there will be no let up in the heated nature of the debate which has so far seen “In” campaigners accused of scaremongering on the economy and the “Out” campaign’s immigration focus criticised as divisive.
In the letter to his colleagues on Saturday announcing that he was not seeking a second term and will return to academia when his tenure ends in September, Rajan made reference to the upcoming referendum in Britain.
Cox, a Labour Party lawmaker and ardent supporter of European Union membership, was shot and stabbed in the street in her electoral district in northern England on Thursday.
While more of those we spoke to in Lowestoft, Beccles, Bury St Edmunds, Sudbury and Stowmarket backed a vote to leave, remain was ahead in Ipswich, Felixstowe and Framlingham.
European Union President Donald Tusk says whatever the result in Thursday’s referendum vote, the member nations must fundamentally reassess the future since dissatisfaction is growing all over the continent.
EU Special: The Case for Remain is on BBC One at 18:45 BST.
UK Independence Party leader Farage had to fend off criticism Sunday, however, over his release of a campaign poster showing refugees trudging through fields towards the camera with a bold, red headline “Breaking Point”.
He said he thought the hit to the economy if Britain votes to leave on Thursday might be worse than forecast.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said in court that a psychiatric report should be prepared “bearing in mind the name he has just given”.
Farage has dismissed criticism of the poster and denied stirring hatred, but conceded Sunday that the murder of Cox may have tempered the upward march of his campaign. “Will the eventual “leave” vote be as firm as it’s reported here – or will the (in my view quite large percentage of) undecided voters mean that the margin is somewhat less?”
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Campaigners for “leave” were bemused by her decision, saying they weren’t even aware she had been a supporter. I think we stay and fight.
