Popular support for the eurozone has climbed to its highest since 2004 according to new polling which points to growing optimism and trust in the bloc a year after the Brexit vote.

The latest survey from Eurobarometer, carried out for the European Commission, found 73 per cent of eurozone citizens supported membership of the single currency area, up 3 points from last year, and the highest level since the early years of EMU in 2004.

The EU has broadly shrugged off the impact from last year’s Brexit vote, with eurozone economic growth accelerating at its best pace in seven years and populist parties in the Netherlands, Austria, and France all suffering setbacks in 2017.

Following years of low growth and a sovereign debt crisis, backing for the single currency has steadily risen from an all-time low of 62 per cent in 2012.

Earlier this year, Marine Le Pen’s Front National party suffered at the ballot box as French voters shied away from her promise to take France out of the currency area. Since the defeat in May, the FN has softened its stance, stepping back from calls for a unilateral “Frexit”.

Rising support for the euro will also embolden policymakers looking to accelerate the next phase of eurozone integration. In contrast to Ms Le Pen, French president Emmanuel Macron has spoken of creating new eurozone institutions such as a joint treasury with a eurozone finance minister.

The euro also won majority backing in all the 19 member state economies in the single currency area. Luxembourg had the highest levels of support at 85 per cent, followed by Slovenia (83), Ireland (83), and Estonia (83). Popular support was lowest in Italy at 58 per cent. In Greece, which is still under the tutelage of eurozone creditors after seven years of bailouts, support rose to 64 per.

Citizens in the EU also reported the highest level of trust in Brussels’ institutions since the continent’s debt crisis struck seven years ago. Eurobarometer found 42 per cent of people said they had trust in the EU this year, up from 36 per cent in 2016 and the highest level since 2010.

More than two thirds of Europeans (68 per cent) said they felt they were citizens of the EU – the highest level on record. The polling was carried out in May.

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