BERLIN, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Fifty-eight percent of EU citizens were pessimistic about their country's future, according to a survey published by the German Bertelsmann Foundation on Thursday.
Meanwhile, just as many Europeans were optimistic about their personal future, according to the survey conducted with 13,000 citizens from countries of the European Union (EU) in December 2019.
"This optimism paradox applies, albeit to varying degrees, in all EU member states," Bertelsmann Foundation noted, adding "The human tendency to trust in one's own strength more than in that of society has political implications that can be clearly observed, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic."
Even among Dutch citizens who were least pessimistic, 51 percent still had a negative view about the future of their country, the survey found.
Italians were the most pessimistic about the future of their country, at 72 percent. In France, the rate was 69 percent, while 61 percent were "extremely negative" about their own lives, Bertelsmann Foundation noted.
Polish citizens were the most optimistic about their own future, at 67 percent, followed by Germans, at 65 percent.
"The Germans stand out for their high level of trust in their own strength, while remaining particularly despondent about Germany's future," said Isabell Hoffmann, Europe expert at the Bertelsmann Foundation and head of the so-called eupinions project. Enditem
