No. 4

Take me to your Euro-fuhrer

Germany is the leader of Europe according to respondents to a Harris Interactive/France 24/International Herald Tribune survey.

Majorities of the public in France (68%), Spain (57%) and Germany (57%), as well as 39 percent of Italians and 35 percent of British adults consider Germany to be the “leader” of Europe. Of these European countries, Germany is considered the leader by all five. In the United States, almost two-thirds (63%) of Americans lean more towards the country they believe to be their closest partner, Great Britain, as the leader of Europe today. Surveyed online were a total of 6,478 adults aged 16 to 64 within France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, and the United States, and adults aged 18 to 64 in Italy, between February 27 and March 6.

Survey respondents in each of the five European countries consider German Chancellor Angela Merkel the most influential leader in Europe today. At the top for is Only the United States differs, as the person they think is most influential is British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Considering a possible European president there are a couple of people that rise to the top for each country in the survey results. In Great Britain and the US, adults are more likely to believe Tony Blair should be the European president. Italians and Germans tend to believe Angela Merkel should be the European president. French adults are more likely to believe Jacques Delors, the former President of the European Committee, should be the European president while more Spaniards think it should be Felipe Gonzalez, the former president of Spain. However, many people, including 46 per cent in Britain and 32 per cent in Germany and the United States, are opposed to the idea of having a president of Europe.
Who would have thought it?
Falls overboard can be deadly for boaters, discloses a U.S. recreational boating association. According to the BoatU.S. Foundation, a fall overboard is the number one boating accident that leads to the most fatalities. The organization suggests that boaters invest in a portable boarding ladder to help them get back in their boat.