According to survey results, the majority of citizens from the five leading European countries upheld that religion should not be an impediment to EU accession.
Survey results also suggest that religion was not the reason behind the European public’s lagging support for enlargement. According to the poll conducted by the Financial Times in Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, a majority said that religion should not obstruct membership in the EU.
Sixty nine percent noted that they would not object to their children marrying with people from other religions.
However, another survey conducted by the Harris Interactive research institute revealed that 35 percent of 12,500 persons polled in France and Germany believed that the EU was a Christian club.
Survey results further demonstrate that 53 percent of Americans believe that women should be entitled to wear a headscarf, even in public service. However, this figure is 23 percent among the British, and 13 percent among the French.
Ten percent of French respondents said religious symbols such as crosses and headscarves should be allowed in schools, whereas in America this figure dramatically increases to 77 percent.
