Most Germans support the EU
DOROTHY Wilson's claim that Germans do not like the EU is contradicted by the annual Eurobarometer poll, which takes a far wider sample of opinion than the lone German she spoke to, "Germans have EU concerns (Your Views, August 20).
This is an annual poll taken across the whole of Europe every October, and in 2009 during the height of the economic crisis 60 per cent of Germans said that membership of the EU was good for Germany, as opposed to 11 per cent who said it was a bad thing.
In the UK the "good thing" and "bad thing" results are 30 per cent each.
Support among younger people is far higher than older people.
In effect this means that 30 per cent of Brits and 11 per cent of Germans want to leave the EU, which is hardly a majority in either nation. That is why our Government has announced its desire for the EU to expand to include Turkey, a policy first publicly announced in Roger Helmer's election manifesto in 2009.
ERIC GOODYER High Street Colsterworth
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by Dorothy Wilson, Loughborough
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 4:34PM
“Outofleftfield: Before casting slurs on other people you should check your facts.
Far from being xenophobic I have a long record of working for international and specifically European co-operation. That record includes serving as European President of a worldwide association dedicated to fostering international friendship. I was elected, and re-elected, to the presidency by my peers from across the European continent. I was also the chief guest when my association was honoured with a reception at the German Chancellery hosted by the then German President and one of our members who was also a member of the Bundestag. I was also one of key note speakers, along with the Finance Minister from Taiwan, at an international development conference in the Philippines.
As for talking to one German, in fact I have German friends in locations as far apart as Schleswig Holstein and Bavaria and in many places en route and keep in touch with them on a regular basis. I merely quoted one of them.
Doug in Munich: there may not be anti-EU comment in the German press but there is criticism. Merkel¿s plans to allow countries like Greece to become bankrupt were reported in the German press.”
by Andyman, Still in The Office
Saturday, September 04 2010, 1:23AM
“Have to agree with you FW, those i saw or heard predicted a hung parliament.
Germany are one of the trio which dictate and control the EU, so why would they oppose it.”
by FW, Nottingham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 8:18PM
“
Not making any point FW - just being sarcastic - whats your problem?
I am not sure it is possible to be sarcastic without seeking to make a point -- since being sarcastic involves saying the opposite of what you mean, you have to mean something to be able to say the opposite.”
by MadBadger, The Sett
Thursday, September 02 2010, 7:11PM
“Agreed, wurrows.
You are pointless.”
by wurrows, Nottingham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 6:56PM
“Not making any point FW - just being sarcastic - whats your problem?”
by FW, Nottingham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 4:53PM
“Ah. So, if you were being sarcastic when apparently claiming that opinion polls shouldn't be trusted because their results are usually wrong, you were actually trying to make the point that opinion polls should be trusted because their results are usually right?”
by wurrows, Nottingham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 4:36PM
“FW, Nottingham
Ever heard of sarcasm?”
by FW, Nottingham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 4:03PM
“
Over 50% of opinion polls said Labour would win the last election.
Is anyone really so dim as to think that if they just state something, it becomes true?
ComRes Poll 6/5/10: Conservatives largest single party, hung parliament
ICM Poll 6/5/10: Conservatives largest single party, hung parliament
Ipsos MORI Poll 21/4/10: Conservatives largest single party, hung parliament
YouGov Poll 18/4/10: Conservatives largest single party, hung parliament
In fact, track back through the data, and you will find that the last time Labour was consistently ahead in the opinion polls was in 2007.
But why let little matters like facts stand in the way of your argument, when you know The Truth.”
by doug, munich
Thursday, September 02 2010, 3:19PM
“there is certainly little said in the german media that is anti-EU, Bild apart.
Apparently, a lot of germans would welcome the return of the Deutsche Mark but that's about it”
by wurrows, Nottingham
Thursday, September 02 2010, 2:55PM
“Over 50% of opinion polls said Labour would win the last election.”