The level of trust in the European Union in Germany has been declining in recent years. Most Germans consider the EU responsible for the country's economic problems. Meanwhile, studies conducted at several German universities indicate that Germany derives far more benefits from membership in the largest continental organization than the public realizes.
In 2004, Germany contributed €7.1 billion to the EU budget. Did this contribution pay off for Germany on the intra-European market? According to the weekly Spiegel, citing the results of a study commissioned by the federal government and conducted at several German universities, export volume grew by 25% from 2000 to 2004. Moreover, the growth rate of exports to countries recently admitted to the EU is even higher: exports grew by 34% over four years. And in total, 82% of Germany's export turnover of €600 billion goes to EU member states.
Despite these obvious figures, most Germans see things from a different point of view. According to a survey of 1,534 German citizens commissioned by the European Commission, 84% of Germans fear the transfer of jobs from Germany to new EU member states, and 64% fear a reduction in the level of social standards achieved before EU enlargement. The main conclusion is especially alarming for the European Commission: 59% are categorically against the EU expanding by even one more member in the near future. With such sentiments, it is difficult to expect EU enlargement in the coming years.
Elmar Brok, a member of the European Parliament from Germany's ruling CDU party, recently presented the results of an analysis of how EU membership affects the German economy. Brok stated unequivocally: “There is no country in Europe that benefits more from EU membership than Germany.” The deputy also reminded that Germany's contribution for 2007-2013 will be about €3 billion less than Germany paid several years ago, i.e., before the reduction of its contribution. And Germany's exports to Eastern European countries have exceeded exports to the US in volume.
Former EU Commissioner Monika Wulf-Mathies called on the federal government, shortly before the EU presidency passed to Germany (scheduled for the first half of 2007), to be sure to publish the detailed results of the study of the debit-credit history of the country's membership in the EU, without which further discussion of Germany's place in the EU becomes pointless. Other members of the European Parliament also demand “satisfaction.”