News Item, , Berlin/Brüssel: Before the EU-Summit - Europeans Pin Their Hopes on Angela Merkel

EU citizens are in favour of greater political leadership in the European Union, and want the Euro countries to lead the way.

20 percent of European interviewees are in favour of José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, who comes in second place. He is followed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy (15 percent) and, hard on his heels, future British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (14 percent). A mere 13 percent are of the opinion that no single person in the European Union should assume a role as a strong political leader.

The German Chancellor has consistently high ratings throughout Europe. In France 36 percent of the interviewees hope that she will assume a strong leadership role. However, in Poland Merkel's ratings amount to no more than 17 percent, and in the case of the British she comes in last with 11 percent.

It is generally believed that, in addition to the contribution made by individual politicians, leadership in the EU should also be provided by specific groups of countries. Only 10 percent of European interviewees are against a leadership role for particular countries. However, the interviewees believe that the Franco-German motor is now defunct. Whereas it is true that in France 30 percent of the interviewees still believe that France and Germany should play a leading role, in Germany only 16 percent are of this opinion, and in Europe taken as a whole the figure is as low as 11 percent. Above all, there is a belief that greater leadership should come from the Euro Group. 33 percent of European interviewees are of this opinion, especially those in Spain and the Netherlands, both medium-sized members of the EU. A smaller leadership group is considered to be feasible if it were to comprise the big three - Germany, France and the United Kingdom. This is the second most popular option after the Euro Group. A mere 5 percent are in favour of the Weimar triangle, which comprises Poland, France and Germany.

On the basis of this Dominik Hierlemann, an expert on European affairs at the Bertelsmann Stiftung, comes to the following conclusion: "EU citizens know that the EU needs more politicians with leadership qualities, and they also see the need for smaller groups of countries capable of providing leadership. Now that there are 27 member states, this can no longer be only France and Germany, though they will certainly have a part to play. But the data also demonstrate that Poland and Great Britain will insist on being part of a leadership group." With regard to the politicians with the requisite leadership qualities, Armando Garcia of the Bertelsmann Stiftung adds: "The good approval ratings for José Manuel Barroso, the President of the Commission, indicate that not only national politicians ought to consider assuming a leadership role in Europe. Outstanding personalities who have the will to get things done are needed in Brussels, though of course they will have to be given the necessary institutional power."

The Bertelsmann Stiftungs's representative survey was conducted in May and June in 14 EU member states.