GERMAN FINANCE minister Wolfgang Schäuble has insisted that ongoing euro zone turbulence has not changed Berlin’s commitment to the EU and that Germany remains “anchored in the middle of Europe, surrounded by friends”.
Ahead of euro zone finance minister talks today on a second Greek rescue fund, Mr Schäuble said the influence of emerging Eurosceptics in the debt crisis should not be overestimated.
"It would be naive to expect that we could go through the kind of crisis we are facing today and make all the radical changes we have made to strengthen the euro zone without this resulting in a degree of tension," Mr Schäuble told The Irish Times.
“There is a brand of Euroscepticism on the rise around Europe and there are reasons to be vigilant. But I have also experienced a lot of empathy for the huge sacrifices being made in those countries most affected by the crisis.
“You should not confuse their views, however loudly voiced or widely read, for the opinion of the majority,” he said, responding to written questions.
Recent polls suggest the ongoing euro zone bailouts have unnerved German voters and revived doubts about the single currency. More than two-thirds (71 per cent) in a poll last Sunday said they had lost trust in the common currency.
A poll on Thursday showed Germans almost evenly divided on further German assistance for Greece. However, the same poll showed two-thirds of Germans are still either happy with the current EU or favour further integration.
For Mr Schäuble, the lively debate in Germany is evidence of Germans’ continued engagement with the EU and proof that “citizens are less blinded by the short-term problems and controversies than many journalists would have them”.
“These discussions, however lively, are an inherent part of the decision-making process in the EU. Only through these can solutions be found and compromises shaped that will be accepted and understood by the continent’s citizens,” he said.
“The EU has evolved and will continue to evolve towards further integration as it tackles new challenges and unlocks new opportunities for its citizens.”
As the most senior minister at Angela Merkel’s cabinet table, Mr Schäuble acknowledges the continued challenge in communicating to younger citizens that the EU deserves the credit for many benefits they take for granted.
“After such an extended period of peace, unprecedented in our region’s history, it is easy to understate how real and precious this contribution has been,” he said, describing today’s EU as “the most integrated community of nations on the planet, whose citizens enjoy unequalled freedoms, prosperity and opportunities . . .
“I am convinced a majority of our citizens know full well what is at stake right now and what untapped opportunities the EU still has in reserves. Not just that, they are also ready to bear the costs necessary to overcome the crisis and emerge from it stronger.”