The scale of the German population’s negative views of TTIP has surprised many. A recent survey by the Cologne-based economic think tank Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft has explored the following puzzle: Germans are as a general rules pro-free trade, but are sceptical of TTIP. How come? IW Köln’s economist Galina Kolev believes it has to do with rising EU-scepticism in the country.
“Behind the TTIP-scepticism lies a series of causes that only indirectly have to do with TTIP. The rejection of the free trade agreement is part of the protest against EU structures”, writes Galina Kolev. “Possible starting points for fostering greater support for TTIP lie in increasing trust in the EU”, Kolev concluded.
In her exploration of how TTIP support correlates other policy views of Germans polled by the Eurobarometer, Kolev found that in Germany, the likelihood of being against TTIP increases by 30 percent if the voter leans to the far right, and by 6 percent when the person has negative views on non-EU immigration.
When a citizen considers his/her views are heard in the EU decision-making process i.e. trusts the democratic process, there is a 10 percent greater chance he or she will support TTIP.
The study is available (in German) here.
