Germany continues to guarantee the stability of the eurozone, which is obviously in Britain's interest. British public opinion is split between those who want to leave the Union and come to an arrangement like those negotiated by Norway or Switzerland and those who want to stay in but on better terms. Those terms are, in effect, in Merkel's hands to determine. Politicians are thus forced to gesture towards Germany, whether they like it or not. The immigration speech made by David Cameron in November was widely seen as a nod in Merkel's direction by focusing on benefits, not borders.
In recent years, the two countries have differed, in particular on this issue, whichever party was in government, but now their concerns begin to sound quite similar. This is new for Germany. Only a few weeks ago Merkel put a positive spin on the issue of immigration by organising a summit for immigrants, urging her country, rather loftily, to become a "country of integration". She has in the past criticised multiculturalism. Britain by contrast is more worried about reducing its pull-factor for immigrants.
The numbers are quite interesting in this respect: about 13 per cent of the population in Germany are immigrants but Germans think the figure is about 10 per cent higher. A German Marshall Fund study last year found that 64 per cent of people in Britain see immigration as a problem compared to 29 per cent who see it as an opportunity. In Germany it is the other way around, with just 32 per cent seeing immigration as a problem compared to 62 per cent viewing it as an opportunity.
This public perception may change if Germany fails to respond to potential problems — problems which Britain has struggled with for a number of years, such as the rise of extremism. As in Britain, hundreds of young Germans have travelled to Syria to fight with Islamic State — the public didn't seem quite ready to accept the notion that Germany has Islamists, too (and that this was not simply a problem to do with radicalised immigrants).
Is there a real exchange on such matters? It doesn't seem like it. Germany ought to seize the moment while its cultural products — Dürer, Holbein, Richter, Meissen, Bauhaus, Mercedes — are as popular as ever. In turn Germans should see what Britain has to offer in political as well as cultural terms. Germany will only keep Britain in Europe if it makes the most of this new-found British interest in the Germans.
In recent years, the two countries have differed, in particular on this issue, whichever party was in government, but now their concerns begin to sound quite similar. This is new for Germany. Only a few weeks ago Merkel put a positive spin on the issue of immigration by organising a summit for immigrants, urging her country, rather loftily, to become a "country of integration". She has in the past criticised multiculturalism. Britain by contrast is more worried about reducing its pull-factor for immigrants.
The numbers are quite interesting in this respect: about 13 per cent of the population in Germany are immigrants but Germans think the figure is about 10 per cent higher. A German Marshall Fund study last year found that 64 per cent of people in Britain see immigration as a problem compared to 29 per cent who see it as an opportunity. In Germany it is the other way around, with just 32 per cent seeing immigration as a problem compared to 62 per cent viewing it as an opportunity.
This public perception may change if Germany fails to respond to potential problems — problems which Britain has struggled with for a number of years, such as the rise of extremism. As in Britain, hundreds of young Germans have travelled to Syria to fight with Islamic State — the public didn't seem quite ready to accept the notion that Germany has Islamists, too (and that this was not simply a problem to do with radicalised immigrants).
Is there a real exchange on such matters? It doesn't seem like it. Germany ought to seize the moment while its cultural products — Dürer, Holbein, Richter, Meissen, Bauhaus, Mercedes — are as popular as ever. In turn Germans should see what Britain has to offer in political as well as cultural terms. Germany will only keep Britain in Europe if it makes the most of this new-found British interest in the Germans.
Like this article? Share, save or print using the icons below:
