(ANSAmed) – ATHENS, JANUARY 9 - Support for the European
Union leadership has dropped sharply in countries with
struggling economies, Greek media reports quoting a Gallup Poll
released Wednesday. In Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg, support
remains relatively high, with more than 50% of respondents
approving EU leadership, Gallup said. Germany is currently the
strongest country in the EU, while Belgium and Luxembourg are
home to many EU institutions. Support dropped precipitously in
Cyprus, Greece and Spain, all countries that have had to adopt
austerity measures in return for EU bailouts. In Spain, where
59% of respondents in 2008 backed the EU, support was down to
27% in 2013. In Greece and Cyprus, support dropped from 32% and
39% in 2010 to 19% and 21% in 2013. Generally, young people
between the ages of 15 and 24 have been most supportive of the
EU. But Gallup said high unemployment among the young in some
European countries has made them less enthusiastic. (ANSAmed).
