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| Travellers' views on EU membership: 'It would be a shame if Britain left' | Travellers' views on EU membership: 'It would be a shame if Britain left' |
| (2 months later) | |
| EU citizens leaving London on Eurostar only faced weather delays of up to 20 minutes on their journeys home on Wednesday – not a four-year wait for a referendum. | EU citizens leaving London on Eurostar only faced weather delays of up to 20 minutes on their journeys home on Wednesday – not a four-year wait for a referendum. |
| That might explain the sympathetic response some travellers expressed towards the UK government's position, although Michèle Gentelet, from Paris, heading home with three grandchildren, was blunt. | That might explain the sympathetic response some travellers expressed towards the UK government's position, although Michèle Gentelet, from Paris, heading home with three grandchildren, was blunt. |
| "Mr Cameron is not right. He takes things he wants in Europe but refuses what he doesn't", said the 68-year-old cultural consultant at the Pompidou Centre. "In Europe, he thinks, every country is below Britain. He talks Europe and acts only in the interests of Great Britain." | "Mr Cameron is not right. He takes things he wants in Europe but refuses what he doesn't", said the 68-year-old cultural consultant at the Pompidou Centre. "In Europe, he thinks, every country is below Britain. He talks Europe and acts only in the interests of Great Britain." |
| Samuel Cohen, a film sound mixer living in the French capital was more understanding of Britain's stance. "I think if there is a referendum and people say what they want, it is a good attitude. There are people in France who don't know where Europe is going. We don't even know where we are going with the socialist government because a lot of people are running away from France, particularly those with money. I am sure if there was a referendum in France now, no [to EU membership] would win." | Samuel Cohen, a film sound mixer living in the French capital was more understanding of Britain's stance. "I think if there is a referendum and people say what they want, it is a good attitude. There are people in France who don't know where Europe is going. We don't even know where we are going with the socialist government because a lot of people are running away from France, particularly those with money. I am sure if there was a referendum in France now, no [to EU membership] would win." |
| Cohen, 54, returning to Paris with his wife, Jacqueline, maintained French people had already shown they had not "wanted Europe" in a referendum held by President Jacques Chirac on the European constitution in 2005. It was adopted by his successor Nicolas Sarkozy by signing the Lisbon treaty. "All the politicians were saying support it, pushing people, which is normal." | Cohen, 54, returning to Paris with his wife, Jacqueline, maintained French people had already shown they had not "wanted Europe" in a referendum held by President Jacques Chirac on the European constitution in 2005. It was adopted by his successor Nicolas Sarkozy by signing the Lisbon treaty. "All the politicians were saying support it, pushing people, which is normal." |
| Heading home for Lille, teacher Tania Carpenter, 35, said: "It would be a shame [if Britain left]. The British have always been pretty much apart but Europe without Britain wouldn't seem like Europe any more. The question is will other countries leave if Britain leaves?" | Heading home for Lille, teacher Tania Carpenter, 35, said: "It would be a shame [if Britain left]. The British have always been pretty much apart but Europe without Britain wouldn't seem like Europe any more. The question is will other countries leave if Britain leaves?" |
| Countries went "for the whole package" of give and take with other members, she added. "I don't think the French have been quite as picky as the British but then you have your own currency so you are not a full part of Europe." | Countries went "for the whole package" of give and take with other members, she added. "I don't think the French have been quite as picky as the British but then you have your own currency so you are not a full part of Europe." |
| Falco Mooren, 39, a maintenance manager on Dutch railways from Utrecht, said Britain did not always seem very co-operative. "I think people realise we may get to the stage where we get a Europe of two speeds." | Falco Mooren, 39, a maintenance manager on Dutch railways from Utrecht, said Britain did not always seem very co-operative. "I think people realise we may get to the stage where we get a Europe of two speeds." |
| In the Netherlands, he believed, "only a very small minority" would want to leave the EU, "but it is fully open for debate whether the structure we have is right or not. It is not a question of in or out. I think people understand the perspective of British people. There are serious questions as to whether Europe is working. But with the English, the debate is not seen as very constructive. It becomes a threat to leave rather than a debate on making things work better." | In the Netherlands, he believed, "only a very small minority" would want to leave the EU, "but it is fully open for debate whether the structure we have is right or not. It is not a question of in or out. I think people understand the perspective of British people. There are serious questions as to whether Europe is working. But with the English, the debate is not seen as very constructive. It becomes a threat to leave rather than a debate on making things work better." |
| The Belgians at St Pancras seemed more interested in talking about the failings of their own government which took nearly 500 days to form last year. "Sometimes I think it is better for Belgium to leave the EU as well," said student Roseline Suy, 19, from Antwerp. "The underground is much better than in Belgium", said her friend Anton von Hove, 22. | The Belgians at St Pancras seemed more interested in talking about the failings of their own government which took nearly 500 days to form last year. "Sometimes I think it is better for Belgium to leave the EU as well," said student Roseline Suy, 19, from Antwerp. "The underground is much better than in Belgium", said her friend Anton von Hove, 22. |
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