Dhe Spanish admiration for Germany is great, especially for the economy, industry and technology. But the Germans don’t really like the Spaniards, many feel a clear “emotional distance” towards them. This is the result of a survey of thousands of Spaniards by the Elcano Institute in Madrid: “The ideas that are spontaneously associated with Germany are predominantly positive,” it says – even more than in the last survey in 2017 rigorous, disciplined, hardworking and productive valued. Only eight percent immediately name negative characteristics, such as unfriendliness and impoliteness, recent history plays practically no role.
The Federal Republic enjoys the highest reputation among its European partners, ahead of its neighbors France and Italy. One trusts the country that one neither fears nor sees as a rival. But only 37 percent expressly express sympathy, 42 percent even accuse Germany of selfishness and a lack of solidarity in the EU. A majority considers the German reaction to the Ukraine war to be appropriate.
No vacation in Germany
However, Spanish curiosity about the European partner is limited. The majority admits that they know little about what is happening in Germany. While almost two-thirds of all Germans have been to Spain at least once, comparatively few Spaniards are drawn there: more than 60 percent have never been to the Rhine or the Spree. Only 14 percent have German language skills, as shown by the survey commissioned by the German embassy from the research institute. German is seen as more difficult, less attractive and less useful than English or French.
For most Spaniards, Germany is not a country they would like to live, work or study in. They consider the quality of life at home to be higher, and they also feel superior to the homeland of Goethe and Schiller when it comes to “cultural production”. Almost two thirds of the Andalusians surveyed are convinced of the superior quality of life, while Basques, on the other hand, are of the opinion that life is better in Germany. However, German food received the worst marks from all of them.