I think from the point of view of the US and elsewhere, the UK is in Europe and is European. They are aware they are not in the EU, but that doesn't matter as i

I think from the point of view of the US and elsewhere, the UK is in Europe and is European. They are aware they are not in the EU, but that doesn't matter as it's inappropriate to make EU synonymous with Europe. (The distinction is much like North America vs USA; if you said the former you definitely don't mean _just_ the latter).