Feature: Germans have ambivalence toward EU

While European Union (EU) leaders are wrangling over the wording of the Berlin Declaration, ordinary citizens care more about what they are benefiting from the bloc, as they weigh the pros and cons of membership.

"The European Union is good," Andrea replied without hesitation when asked about her idea of the bloc.

"It's easier (for us) to travel because the union has brought different countries together."

A middle-aged housewife, Andrea was among many visitors at the Old Museum in downtown Berlin featuring Egyptian collections.

The opening of the museum, one of the several similar ones in the same area, kicked off the first night of the "European Festival" to mark the 50th anniversary of the EU.

Andrea's idea was echoed by many other visitors, among them Michaela, an assistant in a nearby museum.

Michaela complained, however, the price doubled when the Deutsche mark was replaced by the euro.

Guntram Hoafker saw the EU in a different perspective: it brought peace to the continent.

"My parents had experienced two wars before (the EU was founded). My father lost his brother. I have the opportunity to live in peace here," said the man in his 50s.

Hans, a 37-year-old psychologist, put his argument in historical context. "Antiques from Greece tell about long times of wars in Europe. Now we have peace. It (The European Union project) is worth the struggle."

His friend, Claudia, said the biggest achievements of the EU are peace, tolerance and prosperity. "With the EU, prejudices against our neighbors are becoming less and less evident."

Hans was also amazed by the fact that the EU has brought together so many different cultures. "If you have European perspectives, you realize you are from Europe, not only from Germany, or Greece."

While citizens seem to be generally in favor of the European idea, it does not mean they are happy with the EU institutions.

"The bad thing (about the EU) is that there are lots of bureaucracy," said Andrea.

She also voiced concerns about the huge task of integrating new members from Eastern Europe. "They have different life styles and different living standards."

Worried about the influx of workers from Eastern Europe, she said the laborers, who would work longer hours for lower pay, will change the way of life here in Germany.

Amne, a 16-year-old grammar school student, also remained ambivalent toward the EU. On the one hand, citizens can travel easily, but when it comes to policy, the "old" and new members need to reconcile, she said.

The citizens were even more divided when it comes to enlargement and the stalled EU constitution.

For Claudia, a 35-year-old journalist, the constitution means nothing for the people.

But her friend Hans argued that the constitution would bring the nations closer in the long run. Twenty years ago, the single currency was not even conceivable, he argued.

In Michaela's view, the constitution is good. While her husband, Malko, said Europe has not reached the stage for consensus on this issue.

How about the all-important Berlin Declaration to be signed on Sunday? Many of the revelers have even not heard of it.

It is said that German officials, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, have taken great pains to get rid of jargon from the document so that it is readable for ordinary citizens. Would they be advised to save their efforts in the first place? Source: Xinhua