New polling shows a growing unrest all across Europe and a discontentment with the european union that is spilling over the borders of more countries. The survey by Kantar Public contacted more than 10,000 Eu Citizens, including the UK and 1,800 individuals referred to as "influencers" from politics. The poll showed a “visible divide” between the general public and the “elite”.

The report states a majority of 55% of the EU citizenship, other than those in the UK, believe another nation will exit the union within the next 10 years. A very large minority of 43% of elites and political class residents felt the same.

However, another report by the Chatham House department of international affairs found that “decision-makers and influencers” within the European Union were even less concerned about another exit while average citizens were more likely to be dissatisfied with the wobbly federation.

Report: 'simmering discontent'

The reports reveal a “simmering discontent” that cannot be good news for Brussels or the next commission rotation as it tries to balance austerity measures and risky financial bailouts for EU members with failing economies. Moreover, 72 percent of British respondents indicated the EU would lose more members. Ironically, 80 percent of survey participants from Greece, the nation that has most benefited from European Commission bailouts, said they thought another country would soon exit the union.

Significant gap between 'elite' and ordinary

Interestingly, politicians and other influencers said that they do not view BREXIT concerns as a priority. In their view It only ranked 12th out of the top 15 perceivable threats to the alliance. The reports show a wide gap between the ruling class and ordinary citizens when it comes to the union’s long-term stability.

At the top of a list of concerns was Europe’s unrelenting refugee crisis, excessive bureaucratic meddling and concerns about immigration.

To survive, EU must overcome many cultural barriers

Separate languages, old world cultures and long, violent histories make it difficult at best for Europe to forge a United States-like union.

However, with tens of thousands of Middle East and African refugees basically crashing the borders of European countries before fanning out across the continent, unresolved terrorist activity and other national security issues are piling on, threatening the European Union’s open-borders concept. Struggling economies and member governments that are unable or unwilling to pay their debts have exposed complex financial arrangements have angered the Germans and French. Meanwhile, official ongoing BREXIT negotiations speak volumes about the Britts' attitude.

Open borders and open wallets

In time, national security and border issues are likely to take a major toll on the EU partnership as refugees continue to settle in Western Europe.

Europeans fear the growing likelihood of a major Trojan Horse attack because of the Schengen open-borders arrangement. Beyond that, European Commission austerity measures and the huge costs of bailouts to lender nations continue to drive wedges between wealthy and poor member states and increase common angst and uncertainty about the future.
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