Poll shows strong Euroscepticism

French and Dutch voters rejected the constitution in 2005

In the run-up to the EU's 50th birthday a Financial Times poll has found that 44% of Europeans think life has got worse since their country joined.

The FT/Harris online poll surveyed 6,772 adults in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. US citizens were also asked questions about the EU.

Just 22% of the Europeans questioned thought their country should pull out of the 27-nation bloc, however.

UK respondents were the most negative about the EU draft constitution.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel - currently holding the EU presidency - wants to get agreement on a roadmap for EU institutional changes by June, setting 2009 as the deadline for adoption of a constitution.

When asked what they associated most with the EU, 31% of the FT/Harris poll respondents said the single market, 20% bureaucracy, 9% democracy and 26% other factors.

In the UK, 52% of those questioned said things had got worse since joining the EU, while in Spain 53% said life had improved.