Backing dropped in Germany, France, Spain and UK compared to last year

Support for the EU has plummeted across Europe in the wake of the migrant crisis - and the French dislike it even more than Britons do, a survey has revealed - just weeks before the Brexit vote.

Just 38 per cent of respondents in France said they had a favourable view of the EU compared to 44 per cent in Britain.

And nearly a third of those questioned in France believe Brexit would be 'positive' for the EU - despite 'overwhelming sentiment' in all other countries surveyed that it would harm the bloc.

Dwindling support: Backing for the EU plummets across Europe in the wake of the migrant crisis - and the French dislike it even more than Britain, a survey has revealed just weeks before the Brexit vote (file picture)

The findings come just weeks before Britons vote in a referendum on whether to leave the 28-bloc institution.

The survey of 10 large EU states by the Washington-based Pew Research Center showed strong support for Britain to stay in the EU, with 89 percent of Swedes, 75 per cent of Dutch and 74 per cent of Germans viewing a so-called Brexit as a bad thing.

But most striking was a plunge in the percentage of Europeans who view the EU favourably, a development which appears linked to the bloc's handling of the refugee crisis and the economy.

The fall was most pronounced in France, where more than 61 per cent respondents said they had an unfavourable view of the EU.

Favourability ratings also fell by 16 points in Spain to 47 percent, by eight points in Germany to 50 per cent, and by seven points in Britain to 44 per cent.

Public support for the EU was strongest in Poland and Hungary, countries which ironically have two of the most EU-sceptical governments in the entire bloc.

The Pew survey showed that 72 per cent of Poles and 61 per cent of Hungarians view the EU favourably.

There has been a striking plunge in the percentage of Europeans who view the EU favourably, a development which appears linked to the bloc's handling of the refugee crisis and the economy

The survey claimed that much of the disaffection with the EU among Europeans 'can be attributed to Brussels' handling of the refugee issue' (file picture)

'The British are not the only ones with doubts about the European Union,' Pew said.

'Much of the disaffection with the EU among Europeans can be attributed to Brussels' handling of the refugee issue.

'In every country surveyed, overwhelming majorities disapprove of how Brussels has dealt with the problem.'

This was especially true in Greece, which has been overwhelmed by migrants crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey.

Some 94 percent of Greeks believe the EU has mishandled the refugee crisis. In Sweden it was 88 percent, in Italy 77 percent and in Spain 75 percent.

At 92 percent, Greeks were also the most disapproving of the EU's handling of the economy, followed by the Italians at 68 percent and French at 66 percent.

Roughly two-thirds of Greeks and Britons said powers should be returned to national governments from Brussels, far higher than in the other surveyed countries.