Greek Germans seen as 'lazy' living in Germany

By Nomia Iqbal
Newsbeat reporter in Munich Evangelos and Manolis are Greek, Josef (right) is German

When Germany and Greece faced each other on 22 June for their knock-out Euro 2012 game, the politics were obvious.

German fans chanted "without us you wouldn't be here", referring to the multi-billion dollar bailout Greece has received mainly from Germany.

Greeks retorted with "we'll never pay you back".

Just a bit of football banter? Manolis Milios, 29, isn't sure. He's Greek and works at Cavos bar in Munich.

"People's attitudes seem a bit different," he says. "Friends of mine were looking for an apartment in Germany and were asked on the phone if they were Greek.

"They were told, because you're Greek, we want to see what you've earned in the last three years as opposed to last three months."

Bailout

Greeks are the fourth largest immigrant group in Germany. Official statistics suggest there about 380,000 in the country.

Wearing his Greece football shirt and taking down orders, Manolis admits it's difficult sometimes.

Greece fans at Euro 2012 quarter-final Germany and Greece game in Poland

"Do I feel embarrassed about it (the bailout), hell yes," he admits.

"People say Greeks are lazy and that's why we're in trouble. But Greeks do work. The problems are mainly down to corruption there among politicians."

For about three years now Greece has been going through its worst economic crisis.

It was the first to take a multi-billion pound bailout from other European countries in May 2010, mainly from Germany who has the strongest economy out of everyone that uses the euro.

In return Greece has had to undergo tough spending cuts and tax rises, sparking huge protests there.

Josef Krauss is German and works in the kitchen. He says he tries to avoid arguments with his Greek friends but admits he's angry.

"Of course the Germans are the ones paying out the most to help and I don't think that's fair," he said.

Paying taxes

"I think it would be best for Greece to start from scratch and return to the drachma. We can't go on paying our taxes to others like this."

As Josef talks, he's challenged by Manolis, who questions him.

"Return to the drachma?" he asks. "Are you crazy? And go on like what? You have to pay your taxes anyway."

Evangelos says his family in Greece isn't getting paid

Josef replies: "Yes, I have to pay taxes for me, my people and the European community but I don't want to pay for countries like Greece that are going in the wrong direction."

Manolis comes back: "But why wouldn't you want to show solidarity with your European neighbours?"

Josef again: "We have, we've already paid billions. That has to be recognised."

There have been reports in the German papers that many people are cancelling their holidays to Greece out of fear of they may be targeted.

Evangelos Manos, a 30-year-old Greek, works at the bar too and thinks people should understand why there is frustration in Greece.

"Germans keep saying we're paying for you," he says.

"But my family back home can't even go to the pharmacy to get medicine. They're not getting paid. It's terrible. Life in Greece is not good right now."