ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Only Slovaks and Italians think that the euro is good for their country's economy, according to a recent poll by the German Marshall Fund.

While most EU citizens from the 12 member states surveyed said that EU membership is beneficial for their country, only a minority has a positive view of the common currency.

Recent eurozone member Slovakia gathered a majority of 55 per cent of respondents saying that the euro's effect on their country's economy is "good", while 31 per cent say it is "not good". Second is Italy, where 49 per cent believe that the euro is "good", against 46 per cent who have a more negative assessment.

The survey covered 12 countries, among which the six largest EU countries, as well as EU newcomers Romania and Bulgaria.

Public opinion in Germany was almost evenly divided with 48 per cent having a positive opinion and 49 per cent negative. The Netherlands is also split at 47-47 per cent, while in France 39 per cent have a positive opinion and 54 per cent take a negative view.

The two EU members most 'negative' toward the euro are non-eurozone members the United Kingdom, with 18 per cent positive opinion and 77 per cent, followed by Sweden, with 26 per cent positive and 67 per cent negative.

In EU newcomer Bulgaria, 30 per cent have a positive and 46 per cent a negative opinion. Romania is much more euro-optimistic, with 46 per cent positive opinion and 30 per cent negative. Poland, one of the six largest EU members and the largest country of the fifth EU enlargement, is among the sceptics, with 33 per cent positive opinion and 52 per cent negative. The average for the 12 EU countries surveyed is 40 per cent positive opinion and 53 per cent negative regarding the added value of the euro.

However, most Europeans think that EU membership is beneficial for their countries. As much as 67 per cent take the view that membership is positive for them, as against 24 per cent who see it as something negative.