Transatlantic Views - part 4

The good news on page 56 is that there is nowhere an absolute majority who think Turkish membership in the EU would be a bad thing. Most people take the indifferent position. Even better that only two countries don't have more who think it would be a good thing than those thinking it would be bad - but these are France (16% vs 35%, a third of the latter having problems with a Muslim country in the EU) and, given earlier polls to me surprisingly, Germany (26% vs. 28%) - the latter is further mystified by the very high (53%) fraction of the negatives who chose OTHER as their main reason. 73% of Turks themselves think it would be a good thing - most (70%) because of economic improvement, while for current EU members and Americans, the EU's good effect on the Middle East dominates.

More tomorrow.