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The € uro – What the € uropeans Think Field research and photography carried out by: Timothy James Partridge

Who I Interviewed 29 people altogether (aged 17 to 78): 53% German 21% Spanish 16% French 5% Belgian 5% British (living in France) As well as 3 Swiss people

How I carried out the research A mix of: One-on-one interviews Group interviews Questionnaires

When you buy something, do you still think about how much it used to cost in the former currency? Yes – 33% No – 55% Sometimes – 6% Rarely – 6%

When you buy something, do you still think about how much it used to cost in the former currency? Examples of answers : “ No, except when I'm thinking about house's price because I remember the price of my old and new house in franc” – Matthieu Ballandras (16 year-old French student) “ Not for small sums of money (like a loaf of bread), but for larger sums (like the price of a car or a house !!)” – Andrew Waldron (former TBGS pupil living in France)

If you no longer think about the former price, how many years did it take to feel completely comfortable with euro? About 1 year – 29% About 2 years – 29% About 2-3 years – 13% 3-4 years – 29%

Did you feel prepared and well-informed for the changeover to the euro? Yes – 94% No – 6%

Did you feel prepared and well-informed for the changeover to the euro? Examples of answers : “ Yes, the prices were indicated in both currencies for at least a year before the change, and we received lots of mails from La Poste and our banks about it.” – Anne-Sophie (French assistant at TBGS) “ Yes, the change was not so hard, because in Germany everything was just halved (€1=1.956DM)” – Janine Siegler (apprentice at Bosch Rexroth)

Did you feel prepared and well-informed for the changeover to the euro? Examples of answers : “ It was very hard at first – we didn’t like it and we felt uncomfortable. We were used to the DM – we had had it for about 44 years, since just after the war. We still think in the DM.” – Ursula Rutsanel (German pensioner of 76) “ Yes, the banks helped a lot with information brochures” – Andrew Waldron (former TBGS pupil living in France)

When the euro was introduced in your country, was it supported? Examples of answers : “ Germans are quite easy-going and so most people were for the change – it was only old people who were against it” – Sophia Weber “ It was very hard initially, as there was a large amount of uncertainty. No-one new exactly how much money they had and consequently we had to be really careful with our money and we didn’t go on holiday.” – Research specialist at Bosch Rexroth (former banker)

Did prices go up when the euro was introduced in your country? Yes – 100% No – 0% “ Opposite to what the government says, yes” – Quentin Scaerou (French undergraduate)

Did prices go up when the euro was introduced in your country? Examples of answers: “ Yes! It was approx. 2DM = 1 Euro, but often they just replaced the currency symbol, meaning prices actually doubled (e.g. Pizzas went from DM 8.00 to €8.00 (i.e. DM 16.00)” – Teacher in Germany “ In Germany there was a felling that everything was double as much after the euro. For example, a ‘brötchen’ used to be 0.3 DM, but after the conversion it cost €0.25 (But €1=1.956DM). It made living costs more, and that’s why I think there are now more homeless in Germany.” – Ursula Rutsanel (German pensioner of 76)

Did prices go up when the euro was introduced in your country? Examples of answers: “ Yes. But originally we all thought things were cheaper... (6.6₣ = €1) but in fact they weren't !!” - Lanig Tirilly (English teacher from France) “ Everyone thinks so.... it is true that some shops (especially supermarkets) "rounded up" their prices a little. So there was a small amount of inflation, but not as much as the British tend to believe!!” – Andrew Waldron (former TBGS pupil living in France)

Do you think the euro has caused a loss of cultural identity in your country? Yes – 17% (Germany – 11%, Spain – 6%) No – 83%

Do you think the euro has caused a loss of cultural identity in your country? Examples of responses: “ No, the Franc was shared by different countries, and France has more important cultural aspects than its currency” – Anne-Sophie (French assistant at TBGS) “ Maybe for old people but not from my point of view. Things have changed over the centuries so this is one of those changes.” – Trainee teacher (from Spain)

Do you think the euro has caused a loss of cultural identity in your country? Examples of responses: “ Personally, I don't think so. But I know that older people and elderly people felt very strongly connected to the Deutsche Mark, as the DM was a symbol for the economic growth, wealth and stability after WWII” – Axel König (former German assistant) “ Yes, it was very sad to see the Spanish currency go” – Teacher (from Spain)

Do you think the euro has caused a loss of cultural identity in your country? Examples of responses: “ No. The DM was just a currency, like the euro is now.” – Teacher in Germany “ No. Look at the coins themselves...each country prints its own issue, and even though one face of a banknote or coin is "standard" throughout Europe, the other side has an indication of national identity. For instance, I have an Irish 50 eurocent piece in my pocket as I am typing this reply!!” – Andrew Waldron (former TBGS pupil living in France)

Do you think that if a country does not join the euro, then they are less powerful and important economically? (I.e. Great Britain) Yes – 42% No – 47% Don’t know – 11% “ No, on the contrary, I think that the UK is more powerful by having refused to join” - Teacher (from Spain)

Do you think that if a country does not join the euro, then they are less powerful and important economically? (I.e. Great Britain) Examples of responses: “ Taking into account the actual economy it could be a loss. I strongly believe Great Britain will end up using euro” – Trainee teacher (from Spain) “ It does not make this country less powerful or important, but trade is more difficult. In the case of Britain, it still has power in other branches of the European Union.” – Anne-Sophie (French assistant at TBGS)

Do you think that if a country does not join the euro, then they are less powerful and important economically? (I.e. Great Britain) Examples of responses: “ Kind of. I think it leaves them at the margin of economics.” – Axel König (former German assistant) “ No. I can understand the British point of view. They are scared of losing financial and economic influence. But there is a lot of anti-Euro scare-mongering in the British (tabloid) press.” - Andrew Waldron (former TBGS pupil living in France)

Do you think the euro has caused a loss of cultural identity in your country? Examples of answers: “ No, the current use of "foreigner" coins opens minds!” – Morgane Jançon (French naval apprentice) “ No because every country has its own logo's on it. By the way, Belgium's one is the most rubbish one.” – Maximilian de Vos (18 year-old Belgium student)

In your country, did unemployment increase due to the euro? Yes – 11% No – 89% Common response: No, there is no proof of this.

Do you trust the European Central Bank to look after the interests of your country? Yes - 68% No – 21% (Spain and Germany) Not sure – 11% “ I don’t know really, but I think I have to trust them” – Ines Hespe (German assistant at TBGS)

Do you trust the European Central Bank to look after the interests of your country? Examples of answers : “ France has a strong role within the E.U., so I think we could trust the ECB (in the limits of our trust in other big organisms...). But I am afraid it is not the case for some other countries which arrived a short time ago.” – Anne-Sophie (French assistant at TBGS) “ As much/little as I trust politicians, whether national or European” –Teacher (from Germany)

Do you believe that if you are a part of the EU then you should adopt the euro? Is it a duty? Yes – 63% No – 37%

Do you believe that if you are a part of the EU then you should adopt the euro? Is it a duty? Examples of responses: “ It should not be a duty. I think you should adopt the euro just if you really think is going to be better for the economy in your country.” – Trainee teacher (from Spain) “ Yes, because the € symbolises the EU” – Lucas Strahl (17 year-old German student) “ It is not a duty, and if it is not in the interests of the country, it should keep its currency. But having a common currency helps for many different aspects.” – French assistant

Do you believe that if you are a part of the EU then you should adopt the euro? Is it a duty? Examples of responses: “ Yes! I think you can't just pick and chose which aspects of EU you want. Someone British said GB could be driving the euro bus, but of course they missed the chance to hop on.” – Teacher (from Germany) “ I think so. If the economic basis is given, a country should adopt the Euro if they want to join the EU” – Axel König (former German assistant)

Do you believe that if you are a part of the EU then you should adopt the euro? Is it a duty? Examples of responses: “ Yes. The duty of making everybody's life easier. They are just stupid people that always want to be different.” – Maximilian de Vos (18 year-old Belgium student) “ Yes, I do and I'm not the only one. GB could polish its image (at least in France) by adopting the Euro!” – Morgane Jançon (French naval apprentice)

Do you believe that if you are a part of the EU then you should adopt the euro? Is it a duty? Examples of responses: “ Non, mais les autre parties de l’europe pouvaient s’en sentir fâchées” - Matthieu Ballandras (16 year-old French student) = “ No, but other parts of Europe could feel angry about it” – Matthieu Ballandras (16 year-old French student)

Do you believe that having the euro unites Europe and makes it safer? Yes – 84% No – 16%

Do you believe that having the euro unites Europe and makes it safer? Examples of responses: “ It unites Europe when two persons from completely different background realize that they have at list one common point, their currency (it can make some stupid preconceived ideas fall down). It makes it safer because countries will avoid a conflict with others that have the same currency : for example, a defeat in a war often implies a weakness of its currency in the following times... Would a country like to put into danger one of the most important things for its wealth ?” – French assistant

Do you believe that having the euro unites Europe and makes it safer? Examples of responses: “ On the other hand, the danger is set in the fact that if there is a subtle crisis with a common currency and that countries do not manage to work it out, damages will be much more important.” – French assistant “ Not sure, in case of a euro crisis, the whole Europe will have problems…” – Quentin Scaerou (French undergraduate)

Do you enjoy using a different currency when you go on holiday? Do you think it is part of the ‘ holiday experience ’ ? Yes – 26% No – 74% “ There is no longer the same excitement when you go on holiday and use different money. Before the euro, you could go abroad and things would sometimes be very expensive and sometimes very cheap due to the exchange rate, but with the euro there is no longer that excitement.” – Ruckhard Rutsanel (German pensioner of 77)

Do you enjoy using a different currency when you go on holiday? Do you think it is part of the ‘ holiday experience ’ ? Examples of answers: “ It's strange at first, because England is the only one in west Europe. And sometimes it's hard. We loose our marks towards value of things.” - Quentin Scaerou (French undergraduate) “ Yes, I think part of the fun of going abroad was using a different currency, it was always nice to compare the coins and see the notes” – Teacher (from Spain)

Do you enjoy using a different currency when you go on holiday? Do you think it is part of the ‘ holiday experience ’ ? Examples of answers: “ No. If you visit several countries in one trip, it is wonderfully easy with the euro, and, of course, if you are a non-euro citizen, you can always use spare euros for future trips. With GB in particular, the pound is so strong that it puts many visitors off to come to Britain; instead they go somewhere else (often other euro countries).” “ Actually I did :) I really got to like the pound” – Axel König (former German assistant)

Do you enjoy using a different currency when you go on holiday? Do you think it is part of the ‘ holiday experience ’ ? Examples of answers: “ You don't feel comfortable because you have to foresee how much you will need and sometimes finally can't afford what you want even if you have got the money, only because it's not in the "good" currency!” - Morgane Jançon (French naval apprentice) “ In the UK yes because I am used to it. On the other hand, Turkey (and the Maghreb/North African countries) propose the Euro everywhere in tourstique areas (where a lot of Britons go).” – Lanig Tirilly (English teacher from France)

Do you enjoy using a different currency when you go on holiday? Do you think it is part of the ‘ holiday experience ’ ? Examples of answers: “ Not really, it is a real pain getting ready everything for a trip to UK and having to go at least 2 times to the bank to get the change of currency and then, when you arrive there, apart from the difference of language you start counting coins as a dumb.” – Trainee Spanish teacher “ No, I sometimes do not want to spend money on things because I am unsure about the prices” – Ines Hespe (German assistant at TBGS)

If you were English and lived in Britain now, would you want to join the Euro? Yes – 67% No – 28% (France – 14% Germany – 14%) Not sure – 5% (Spain) “ Yes for the same reasons as in France: solidarité, power, stability, easier for citizens…” – Lanig Tirilly (English teacher from France)

If you were English and lived in Britain now, would you want to join the Euro? Examples of answers: “ British people seem to travel a lot within Europe, so I think it would be easier for them with a common currency. However, with the current financial crisis, answering is a bit difficult. But I know that the more we are, the stronger we are, and the more ideas would come to find a solution, on the short term as well as on the long term.” – French assistant “ No, because the English are quite proud of their currency” – Renate Strahl (German doctor)

If you were English and lived in Britain now, would you want to join the Euro? Examples of answers: “ I am not sure about the answer. This depends on whether it was better for me.” – Trainee teacher (from Spain) “ In seeing how Euro has taken place in the other countries, it doesn't seem a good idea” - Quentin Scaerou (French undergraduate) “ Yes and no! It would make things easier…but I also think that England and Pounds belong together somehow” – Ines Hespe (German assistant at TBGS)

If you were English and lived in Britain now, would you want to join the Euro? Examples of answers: “ Yes becouse I think that all country in Europe join the euro” – Francisco Curro (Spanish student) “ If I were British, I would still think GB should join, despite all the concerns. Time to move on…” – Teacher (from Germany) “ YES! :D But I think the pounds are quite cool. They rock.” – Maximilian de Vos (18 year-old Belgian student)

What are the advantages in your life of the euro? Common responses: Easy travelling Feeling a bigger part of the EU A stronger currency Economically, things are safer – because even if the euro appreciates or depreciates, it makes no difference to trade between EU countries

What are the advantages in your life of the euro? Examples of answers: “ Travels, visite and holidays made easy in the EU and even in Turkey” – Lanig Tirilly (Teacher from France) “ I can even write a cheque on my French bank account in Holland for example, without any problems !!” – Andrew Waldron (Former TBGS pupil living in France) “ As well as buying products from other countries, because there are no charges for the change of currency, we only have to pay for the product and the transport of it” – Anne-Sophie (French assistant at TBGS) “ Getting about (except in England..humhum)” – Morgane Jançon (French navy apprentice)

What are the disadvantages in your life of the euro? Common responses: A dramatic increase in prices Less money National identity is gone None (mostly Belgians and Germans) Hard for older people to adapt to the change, even now The conversion to the euro cost a lot – and these The value of the euro changes from country to country (i.e. prices for same product vary from country to country)

What are the disadvantages in your life of the euro? Examples of answers: “ The small coins are really small...there was a 1 eurocent coin that was tiny, and seems to have simply disappeared” – Andrew Waldron (former TBGS pupil living in France) “ The increase in prices : pay more but do not earn more...” – Anne-Sophie (French assistant at TBGS) “ We all thought things were cheaper... but in fact they weren't !!” – Andrew Waldron (former TBGS pupil living in France)

What are the disadvantages in your life of the euro? Examples of answers: “ Prices have increased since the arrival of the euro, so now everything is more expensive. In contrast, salaries haven't increased the same way as the rest of the things” – Trainee teacher (from Spain) “ Especially clothes became more expensive” – Ines Hespe (German Assistant) “ Lot of people thinks 1€ = 1F, we loss the real value of things...” – Quentin Scaerou (French undergraduate)

What are the disadvantages in your life of the euro? Examples of answers: “ Zuerst schien es als ob alles billiger war, weil jeder so verwirrt war. Deshalb hat man mehr gekauft, ohne zu begreifen, dass es eigentlich teurer war.” – Engineer at Bosch Rexroth = “ At first it seemed as if everything was cheaper, because everyone was so confused. So you spent more without realising that everything was actually more expensive.” - Engineer at Bosch Rexroth

Overall, do you think the conversion to the euro was a good or a bad thing? Examples of answers: “ Ich würde nichts ändern” (“I wouldn’t change anything”) – Janine Siegler (apprentice at Bosch Rexroth) “ It has become such a normal part of everyday life, and despite the fact that prices have increased, it is good to have it. Most of the people from Germany I know would have similar views, including older people.” – Teacher (from Germany)

Overall, do you think the conversion to the euro was a good or a bad thing? Examples of answers: “ It is part of my European commitment to promote unity and solidarity : the Euro is just that!” - Lanig Tirilly (English teacher from France) “ As a boy of France, I regret the changeover” – Quentin Scaerou (French undergraduate) “ Overall I support the euro. But the British will NEVER accept it. They feel it would be an attack on Britain's culture and independence.” – Andrew Waldron (former TBGS pupil living in France)

So, now it ’ s your turn to decide …

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