Remember twenty years ago when, according to the experts, the European Union was going to outperform the U.S.? I’m sure more than a few members are now wondering why they got into the whole thing. Especially the Germans.
IMHO, it's similar to the moderates and independents mindlessly voting for Obama in 2008. They were on a guilt trip.
The German's, having the largest Gross Domestic Product in the European Union despite all of the destruction they caused in the last century, are on a super guilt trip!