Most Britons remain unconvinced of the value of European Union membership, according to a survey by the European Commission.

The latest Eurobarometer poll released on Wednesday revealed less than a third British citizens believe membership of the EU is a positive thing.

Only 31 per cent of UK citizens want to be a part of the EU and 19 per cent want to leave. The survey found 40 per cent think there have been no benefits from being part of Europe.

Britain is not alone in its scepticism despite the introduction of the single currency. Across Europe only 55 per cent of the public in member states are enthusiastic about being a part of the EU, down from a high in the 1990s of 72 per cent.

The Commission also found there was little enthusiasm for a common foreign policy, with 41 per cent against it.

EU officials believe that the strength of negative opinion is due to a lack of knowledge about what Brussels does."The big picture hasn't changed. Research shows that the more people know about the EU the more they support it and the poll shows clearly that British people are not sufficiently well informed," said a spokesman.

"We are a long way from the level of the early 1990s when 72 per cent of citizens regarded their country's membership of the European Community as a good thing."