Nearly half the people in Germany have reservations about the European Union, according to a multi-nation survey by the Pew Research Center.
The poll found that 48% of German residents viewed the EU unfavourably.
The result was the same for people in the UK.
Conversely, 50% of Germans said they had a favourable attitude to the EU, but this was the case for 44% of the British population.
A favourable view of the EU was held by an average of just 51% across countries.
Of its research, the Center said “Euroscepticism is on the rise across Europe and that about 2/3rds of British and Greeks, along with significant minorities in other key nations” want some powers returned from Brussels to national governments”.
A median of 70% believe it would be bad for the EU if the UK votes to leave. Only 16% said it would be a good thing.
So it is not just the Brits who had doubts about the EU.
“The EU’s image and stature have been on a roller coaster ride in recent years throughout Europe.
“In a number of nations the portion of the public with a favorable view of the Brussels-based institution fell markedly from 2012 to 2013 as the European economy cratered. It subsequently rebounded in 2014 and 2015.
“But the EU is again experiencing a sharp dip in public support in a number of its largest member states.”
Other than Poland, support for the EU has dropped dramatically in the last twelve months in all the major EU member nations.
The report attributes this to anger at the EU's handling of the refugee crisis – with swathes of people disapproving - and common economic policy.
“The institution’s strongest backers are the Poles (72%) and the Hungarians (61%). In many other nations, support is tepid. Just 27% of the Greeks, 38% of the French and 47% of the Spanish have a favorable opinion of the EU. Notably, 44% of the British view the EU favorably, including 53% of the Scottish.”
Disillusionment is sharpest in people over the age of 50. In France, EU backing among the over 50s fell a massive 19 points. In Spain it declined 16 points and in Germany 11 points. In each case this was larger than the decline in support among those ages 18 to 34.
