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| In search of Europe: Germany | In search of Europe: Germany |
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| German enthusiasm for the EU is tempered with doubts, the BBC's Jonny Dymond reports, on the last leg of his European election tour of the continent. | German enthusiasm for the EU is tempered with doubts, the BBC's Jonny Dymond reports, on the last leg of his European election tour of the continent. |
| Whoever said that Germans don't have a sense of humour? | Whoever said that Germans don't have a sense of humour? |
| JONNY DYMOND I'm Jonny Dymond and I've said goodbye to the BBC Brussels bureau in the run-up to the 4-7 June European Parliament elections. I've been taking the temperature in nine EU member states, asking voters what they think of the EU and what their priorities are. Join me on the trip! Jonny Dymond's route map Your comments | JONNY DYMOND I'm Jonny Dymond and I've said goodbye to the BBC Brussels bureau in the run-up to the 4-7 June European Parliament elections. I've been taking the temperature in nine EU member states, asking voters what they think of the EU and what their priorities are. Join me on the trip! Jonny Dymond's route map Your comments |
| Within minutes of meeting Georg Bernreuter, the owner of a small brewery in the pristine Bavarian countryside, he is telling a joke. He was in the US some years back, in California, and an American told him that he'd been all over Europe. | Within minutes of meeting Georg Bernreuter, the owner of a small brewery in the pristine Bavarian countryside, he is telling a joke. He was in the US some years back, in California, and an American told him that he'd been all over Europe. |
| "Oh really," asked Georg, "when was that?" | "Oh really," asked Georg, "when was that?" |
| "When I was bombing it,"came the reply. And Georg, eyes a-twinkle, laughs long and hard. Which is pretty funny, and fairly generous, given how the nearest city, Nuremburg, was bombed to bits during World War II. | "When I was bombing it,"came the reply. And Georg, eyes a-twinkle, laughs long and hard. Which is pretty funny, and fairly generous, given how the nearest city, Nuremburg, was bombed to bits during World War II. |
| Once we'd both stopped laughing I asked Georg about the EU, which for many decades looked to some like an extended form of German war reparations. He reels off a list of complaints. | Once we'd both stopped laughing I asked Georg about the EU, which for many decades looked to some like an extended form of German war reparations. He reels off a list of complaints. |
| This Bavarian brewer likes the family of nations - but not the bureaucracy | This Bavarian brewer likes the family of nations - but not the bureaucracy |
| "We are paying for Europe, not getting that much, but paying for it." Enlargement, he says, has gone too far. And there's more. | "We are paying for Europe, not getting that much, but paying for it." Enlargement, he says, has gone too far. And there's more. |
| "Lots of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is growing faster than the European Union itself. Big problem." | "Lots of bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is growing faster than the European Union itself. Big problem." |
| So I ask him whether he still has faith in Europe, faith that the EU is the right way forward for Germany? | So I ask him whether he still has faith in Europe, faith that the EU is the right way forward for Germany? |
| "Absolutely," he cuts across me, before I can finish the sentence. "The only way to go in Europe is this coming together of the nations, this is the only way that we can stand the challenges of the future." | "Absolutely," he cuts across me, before I can finish the sentence. "The only way to go in Europe is this coming together of the nations, this is the only way that we can stand the challenges of the future." |
| "Follow the beer" is a good motto in life, so I head off to the Nuremburg suburb of Laufamholz, where in a tent about the size of Texas something approaching German heaven has been created. | "Follow the beer" is a good motto in life, so I head off to the Nuremburg suburb of Laufamholz, where in a tent about the size of Texas something approaching German heaven has been created. |
| The concerns of Germany ahead of EU voting | The concerns of Germany ahead of EU voting |
| Hundreds of people are sitting at long tables drinking enormous glasses of Georg's beer and eating sausages, or huge chunks of meat. There's a band playing and young men in red waistcoats prance round the room in a line, shouting boisterously and waving their hats, to which ribbons are attachedÂ… it's all quite mad. | Hundreds of people are sitting at long tables drinking enormous glasses of Georg's beer and eating sausages, or huge chunks of meat. There's a band playing and young men in red waistcoats prance round the room in a line, shouting boisterously and waving their hats, to which ribbons are attachedÂ… it's all quite mad. |
| It's also the living, beating heart of Europe. | It's also the living, beating heart of Europe. |
| I dip in and out of the tables, annoying innocent drinkers with questions about the EU. | I dip in and out of the tables, annoying innocent drinkers with questions about the EU. |
| Nearly everyone says they'll vote in the elections. Only one person is downright sceptical about Germany and Europe. Others have complaints of course - the cost is mentioned a fair few times. | Nearly everyone says they'll vote in the elections. Only one person is downright sceptical about Germany and Europe. Others have complaints of course - the cost is mentioned a fair few times. |
| But ask them how the relationship is between Europe and its biggest member, and everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet. | But ask them how the relationship is between Europe and its biggest member, and everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet. |
| 'Europe is the future' | 'Europe is the future' |
| "Relations have got better," says one man. "Europe is the future for all European countries," says a young woman. | "Relations have got better," says one man. "Europe is the future for all European countries," says a young woman. |
| "Relations are strong," says another man, boasting that a Bavarian had until recently held a senior post in the European Parliament. | "Relations are strong," says another man, boasting that a Bavarian had until recently held a senior post in the European Parliament. |
| Stilt walkers advertise the right-wing CSU party in Nuremberg | Stilt walkers advertise the right-wing CSU party in Nuremberg |
| Claudia Floren, with one of her three children wrapped around her leg, also mentions the cost of the EU - or EC as she calls it. But again, on the fundamentals, she is a rock-solid supporter of Europe. | Claudia Floren, with one of her three children wrapped around her leg, also mentions the cost of the EU - or EC as she calls it. But again, on the fundamentals, she is a rock-solid supporter of Europe. |
| "I think the EC is very important for Germany, you know, you have to see how big a market we get. | "I think the EC is very important for Germany, you know, you have to see how big a market we get. |
| "And it's also important that the EC is getting bigger these days, because there are other states like the USA or China. If we stay as a little country, we won't make it." | "And it's also important that the EC is getting bigger these days, because there are other states like the USA or China. If we stay as a little country, we won't make it." |
| Even as the global economy tanked, Germany's trade balance was $223bn in the black over the last 12 months. An important part of that was having a market of 26 pretty rich neighbours to sell to without hindrance. | Even as the global economy tanked, Germany's trade balance was $223bn in the black over the last 12 months. An important part of that was having a market of 26 pretty rich neighbours to sell to without hindrance. |
| But there is more to the relationship with the EU than just selling very impressively made products. Amidst the shattering defeat of the last world war, atonement for the extraordinary evil of that period and the miraculous resurrection of the German economy, Germany's fundamental character - its DNA even - has been changed. | But there is more to the relationship with the EU than just selling very impressively made products. Amidst the shattering defeat of the last world war, atonement for the extraordinary evil of that period and the miraculous resurrection of the German economy, Germany's fundamental character - its DNA even - has been changed. |
| Why enlargement is cause for concern for some Germans | Why enlargement is cause for concern for some Germans |
| There is not Germany on the one side and Europe on the other. There is Germany and Europe. They are not the same, but they go together, and are inextricably linked, like black and white, or salt and pepper. | There is not Germany on the one side and Europe on the other. There is Germany and Europe. They are not the same, but they go together, and are inextricably linked, like black and white, or salt and pepper. |
| In Nuremburg's city centre, as the election campaign draws to a close, a local conservative politician drums up votes from a decent-sized crowd whilst stilt walkers in costume hand out flags and leaflets. Inside the next-door church pilgrims sing and pray before some of them start the long walk to Spain. | In Nuremburg's city centre, as the election campaign draws to a close, a local conservative politician drums up votes from a decent-sized crowd whilst stilt walkers in costume hand out flags and leaflets. Inside the next-door church pilgrims sing and pray before some of them start the long walk to Spain. |
| Perhaps unsurprisingly, they are all fervent Europeans. But as the conversation starts to wander onto the new, larger Europe, I can sense disquiet. | Perhaps unsurprisingly, they are all fervent Europeans. But as the conversation starts to wander onto the new, larger Europe, I can sense disquiet. |
| "Is it fair to say," I ask them as they sit in St Jakob's Church, "that the EU is now big enough?" | "Is it fair to say," I ask them as they sit in St Jakob's Church, "that the EU is now big enough?" |
| Across the pews heads nod in agreement. | Across the pews heads nod in agreement. |
| "Turkish membership would go too far," says Gunther Bildstein, a pilgrim in his mid-40s. "I personally would reject it. It is two different worlds that are meeting each other there. The cultures are very, very different in the end." | "Turkish membership would go too far," says Gunther Bildstein, a pilgrim in his mid-40s. "I personally would reject it. It is two different worlds that are meeting each other there. The cultures are very, very different in the end." |
| Further EU enlargement does have supporters in Germany. But many are firmly opposed. | Further EU enlargement does have supporters in Germany. But many are firmly opposed. |
| It's not just the fear of the "other". For many here the EU is a precious and important construct, part of what Germany has become. Reckless enlargement is seen as a threat to the safety of the EU, and of Germany. | It's not just the fear of the "other". For many here the EU is a precious and important construct, part of what Germany has become. Reckless enlargement is seen as a threat to the safety of the EU, and of Germany. |
| The best of Europeans for more than 50 years, the limit of many Germans' appetite for Europe may now have been reached. | The best of Europeans for more than 50 years, the limit of many Germans' appetite for Europe may now have been reached. |
| In search of Europe: Italy | In search of Europe: Italy |
| In search of Europe: Austria | In search of Europe: Austria |
| In search of Europe: Poland | In search of Europe: Poland |
| In search of Europe: Latvia | In search of Europe: Latvia |
| In search of Europe: Sweden | In search of Europe: Sweden |
| In search of Europe: UK | In search of Europe: UK |
| In search of Europe: Ireland | In search of Europe: Ireland |
| In search of Europe: France | In search of Europe: France |
| 4 May - France8 May - Ireland12 May - UK 16 May - Sweden21 May - Latvia25 May - Poland 29 May - Austria2 June - Italy5 June - Germany | 4 May - France8 May - Ireland12 May - UK 16 May - Sweden21 May - Latvia25 May - Poland 29 May - Austria2 June - Italy5 June - Germany |
| Click to return | Click to return |
| Send us your comments on Jonny's feature and any questions for him using the form at the bottom: | |
| A recent poll in Die Welt showed that a massive 74% of Germans think the EU has too much power. This is BEFORE the Lisbon treaty/constitution/reform treaty comes into force! | |
| Germans were not consulted over the Euro or if they agree on enlargement and further integration. They were not asked about the constitution/Lisbon treaty. Here in Germany we are only TOLD to keep financing it. Johannes, Berlin, Germany | |
| Your story about Austria omitted some important historical facts. | |
| Firstly, no mention was made of the Central European country of SLOVENIA, despite the fact that Slovenia and Austria have a shared history going all the way back to the 5th Century, when most of what is today the southern part of Austria (Tyrol, Carinthia and Styria) along with present day Slovenia was actually part of the first Slovenian state of Carantania. That is why there is a Slovenian minority that still lives in Austria today. The Germans arrived in these areas later. | |
| In fact in the 5th Century, Slovenian Dukes were installed near the southern Austrian city of Klagenfurt/Celovec using the Princes Stone, a Slovenian historical symbol that currently appears on the Slovenian Euro coin. | |
| Secondly, between the years 800 and 1803 Slovenia along with Austria, Germany, the Czech Rep, northern Italy, Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland were all a part of the Central European Holy Roman Empire. | |
| Mr Dymond, how can such historically important facts be overlooked when talking about Austria?Roman Sirk, Slovenia | |
| I can understand people's concerns over Turkey entering the EU, to a point. But are they not more concerned with the EU abandoning Turkey and Turkey being left to be taken in by more rogue states further east? Maybe EU politicians should actually try and explain to the peoples of Europe why Turkey being in the EU is in our best interests.Alastair, London | |
| A very interesting piece on the Frankisch (not Bavarian - ask any Nuernberger!) view of Europe. | |
| In the first place, the people Jonny spoke to actually had rational opinions about Europe, both positive and negative. Second, none of the extremist views that have been reported from other countries, including Austria which were frankly frightening, were present.Andrew, Nottingham | |
| "And it's also important that the EC is getting bigger these days, because there are other states like the USA or China. If we stay as a little country, we won't make it." | |
| I agree with it hundred percent. Germany, the UK, France are big countries ONLY if you compare them to a small CEE or Baltic country. If you compare them with the real big players of the world (USA, BRIC countries), you will see how small they have become and more importantly how tiny and insignificant they will be within 20 years or so. peter, budapest | |
| I am feeling kind of bad that the first association that EU enlargement produces is accession of Turkey. Understandably, many people in the EU are opposed to it. | |
| However, there are several aspiring countries in the western Balkans that would also like to join. But, even though we know that "EU is now big enough" statements are mainly related to Turkey, we do feel fear that we don't end up in the same boat.Bojan, Belgrade, Serbia | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |
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