The British are twice as proud of being European as the Dutch
Who would have thought it? This comes courtesy of a scatter chart in a report called Marktplaats Europa produced by the SCP, the Dutch Social and Cultural Planning Office. It is in Dutch, and I am indebted to Nisnews.nl for alerting me to the basic findings in English, and babelfish for a quick and dirty translation of key phrases.
The Germans rate as being the least likely to be 'very proud' of their nationality at 23%. OK, we all know why the Teutons feel a bit embarrassed about Deutschtum, but it was more than 60 years ago, and they have achieved many fine things before and since. It is not as though being European sets their hearts surging either - 9% are 'very proud' of being European. I have not been able to confirm whether 'European' is meant in the debased sense of being part of the EU, or Europe in the geographical, cultural etc sense. Cynicism tells me it is the former. The Dutch are a little more enthusiastic about being Dutch - 29%, but one would have thought that Rembrandt, Spinoza, Tasman, Audrey Hepburn et al would have lifted their spirits rather more. And very proud 'Europeans' they are not: 7%, the lowest figure of the 27.
We British outdo the Portuguese, Latvians and Estonians for Euro fervour, as well as our friends on the other side of the North Sea. As to being proud of being British, only six countries outdo us for their equivalent, including the Irish Republic and both the Greeks and the Cypriots. Maybe it is something to do with history text books in Athens and Nicosia that the Hellenic countries manage a pride level of 79%.
The Greeks also rate as among the most enthusiastic about being European, at 23%, outdone only by Luxembourg at 24%. The Cypriots are less engaged at 13%. The Danes are Mr, Mrs and Ms Average, with 47% thrilled to be Danish, and 16% thrilled to be European.
Further findings later, perhaps.
The Germans rate as being the least likely to be 'very proud' of their nationality at 23%. OK, we all know why the Teutons feel a bit embarrassed about Deutschtum, but it was more than 60 years ago, and they have achieved many fine things before and since. It is not as though being European sets their hearts surging either - 9% are 'very proud' of being European. I have not been able to confirm whether 'European' is meant in the debased sense of being part of the EU, or Europe in the geographical, cultural etc sense. Cynicism tells me it is the former. The Dutch are a little more enthusiastic about being Dutch - 29%, but one would have thought that Rembrandt, Spinoza, Tasman, Audrey Hepburn et al would have lifted their spirits rather more. And very proud 'Europeans' they are not: 7%, the lowest figure of the 27.
We British outdo the Portuguese, Latvians and Estonians for Euro fervour, as well as our friends on the other side of the North Sea. As to being proud of being British, only six countries outdo us for their equivalent, including the Irish Republic and both the Greeks and the Cypriots. Maybe it is something to do with history text books in Athens and Nicosia that the Hellenic countries manage a pride level of 79%.
The Greeks also rate as among the most enthusiastic about being European, at 23%, outdone only by Luxembourg at 24%. The Cypriots are less engaged at 13%. The Danes are Mr, Mrs and Ms Average, with 47% thrilled to be Danish, and 16% thrilled to be European.
Further findings later, perhaps.
Labels: EU fun and games
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on Thursday, May 10, 2007 at 8:22 am.
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As col. Laurens vd Post said, according Private Eye
Wherever you are, you are somewhere.
If you weren't European, ya'd have to be sunning else.
Or as a character says in one of the Mad Max films, "No matter where you go - there you are".
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