Europeans sceptical on euro

LONDON - The Associated Press

A survey across five eurozone countries finds a prevailing skepticism over Europe’s single currency, with a large number of people in France, Italy and Spain thinking it’s been more damaging than beneficial.

Pew Research’s survey, published yesterday, finds that among the five countries there is not one with a majority that thinks the currency has been beneficial to them. The euro was launched in 1999.

However, more people in Greece, the epicenter of the debt crisis, think the 17 nation currency has been good for them than bad.

That may be crucial as Greece heads to the polls on June 17 in an election many see as a referendum on the country’s euro membership.

Pew surveyed more than 8,000 people in eight EU countries between March 17 and April 16.