Germans and Britons Opposed to Their Government Helping Greece Debts

A new Financial Times/Harris Poll finds mixed opinions on helping countries financially within the European Union, especially helping Greece cope with its budget deficit. Two-thirds of Spaniards (65%), three in five Italians (59%) and almost half of French adults (46%) agree that the EU and its members have a responsibility to help other member countries that get into financial or fiscal trouble. Almost half of Germans (46%), however, disagree with this and Britons are divided with 35% agreeing and 34% disagreeing.

There is more agreement, although stronger in some countries than others, when it comes to a government guaranteeing the debts of another EU member. Germans (76%), Britons (61%) and French adults (60%) have the highest amount of opposition to their government guaranteeing the debts of another EU member, followed by Italians (44% opposed). Spaniards are a little more divided – while 40% oppose the idea, 30% would support it.

These are some of the findings of a Financial Times/Harris Poll conducted online by Harris Interactive^® among 5,207 adults aged 16-64 in France (1,067), Germany (1,013), Great Britain (1,123), Spain (1,002) and adults aged 18-64 in Italy (1,002) between March 3 and 10, 2010.

The issue of Greece

The EU is discussing ways to help Greece cope with its budget deficit. Almost half of Spanish adults (45%) and two in five Italians (40%) would support the government in their country helping Greece. French adults are a little more divided on the issue as 39% would oppose their government helping and 35% would support the proposed assistance. Two in five Germans (61%) and over half of Britons (56%) would oppose their government helping Greece with its budget deficit.

While Greece is sorting out its finances, majorities of French (55%), Italians (53%) and Spaniards (50%) as well as 40% of Germans do not agree with the idea that Greece should be asked to leave the Eurozone. British adults are more uncertain with 41% neither agreeing nor disagreeing with this idea and one-third (32%) disagreeing and 27% agreeing.

The Euro and the Eurozone

Looking at the four countries surveyed who are part of the Eurozone, majorities in France (62%), Spain (59%), Italy (54%) and just under half of Germans (49%) say the Euro has a negative impact on their day to day life. Similar numbers in France (55%), Spain (64%), Italy (57%) and Germany (49%) also say the Euro has a negative impact on their country's economy.

However, when asked if their country would be better or worse off if it left the Eurozone, there is a hesitancy to do so. In fact almost half of Italians (47%) and two in five Spaniards (39%) and French adults (39%) say their country would be worse off if they abandoned the Euro. Two in five Germans (40%) think their country would be better off without the Euro, while three in ten (30%) say they would be worse off without it.

In Great Britain there is still no overwhelming desire to leave the pound for the Euro. Two-thirds of Britons (66%) are opposed to the UK adopting the Euro as its currency, with over half (52%) very much opposed. Just 17% would support the adoption of the Euro.

TABLE 1
RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP WITHIN THE EU

"How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement: The European Union and its members have a responsibility to help other member countries that get into financial/fiscal trouble?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

TABLE 2
GUARANTEEING DEBTS WITHIN THE EU

"How much would you support or oppose the government in your country guaranteeing the debts of another EU member?"

Base All EU adults in five countries

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

TABLE 3
GREECE'S BUDGET DEFICIT AND THE EU

"The EU is discussing ways to help Greece cope with its budget deficit. How much would you support or oppose the government in your country to do so?"

Base: All EU adults in five countries

Note: Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding

TABLE 4
GREECE LEAVING THE EUROZONE

"How much do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Greece should be asked to leave the Eurozone (i.e. the Euro currency area), while it sorts out its finances."

Base: All EU adults in five countries