By Chris Jones - 18th December 2006
European citizens remain deeply divided over the role of religion in society, a new survey shows.
The Eurobarometer survey of public opinion shows that 46 per cent of EU citizens believe that religion plays too large a role in EU society, although there are significant differences between member states.
Only 20 per cent of Estonians, for example, believe that there is too much prominence given to religious concerns.
In contrast, some 81 per cent of Cypriots believe that religion plays too large a role in civil society – a reflection, perhaps, of the island’s dual personality, split along both national and religious lines.
The survey results also reveal the increasing disparity between public opinion in the member states and the stances taken by their governments.
In Poland, for example, there has been a sharp swing towards conservative Catholicism on the part of the government, yet some 55 per cent of Poles believe that religion plays too large a role in their country.
In contrast, only 33 per cent of Germans believe that there is too much influence accorded to religion – a sentiment that could be reflected by chancellor Angela Merkel as she seeks to revive the EU constitution next year.
Merkel, along with several other prominent German politicians, argued strongly for some reference to the EU’s Christian values in the constitution, a move rejected by the rest of the EU as sending the wrong message to potential member Turkey.
But while the Eurobarometer survey shows that many Europeans would like to see less religious influence in EU affairs, many also remain staunchly conservative.
Countries such as Poland or Cyprus where sentiment is strong against religious interference in civil society also have the highest level of opposition to issues such as homosexual marriages.
The survey also shows that attitudes to immigration are in part reflected by government policies.
In Sweden, Ireland and Britain, the only three EU15 countries to fully open their doors to workers from the new EU countries in 2004, citizens remain broadly positive about the impact.
Some 79 per cent of Swedes, for example, welcome immigration as beneficial to their society.
But Germany and Austria, which have refused to allow unfettered access to their labour markets for another three years at least, show far lower acceptance.
Only 37 per cent of Austrians and 30 per cent of Germans feel that immigrants contribute significantly to their society.
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