While Angela Merkel continues to push for an EU superstate, voters in her home nation are backing away from the ideals of bureaucrats and their EU integration project.
The bloc has been hit by a wave of populist politicians, taking on the establishment, with a major resurgence of nationalism in countries once fully behind the idea of a more entwined Union.
A findings of a major study by think tank DEMOS into whether the EU will survive 2017 was launched this week, considering in depth why people all over are turning their backs on the EU dream.
Research for the publication Nothing to fear but fear itself began in 2015 when the eurozone crisis, the migrant crisis and issues in Greece threatened to tear the entire EU project apart.
Germany has taken more than one million migrants from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and African nations, leading to a rise from right wing groups, and clashes between cultures.
Failed integration debate reached a climax on January 1, 2016, when more than 100 women in the country reported being sexually assaulted by gangs of migrants in one night.
But with blanket policies, open borders and Brussels-based decision making on the table, voters are beginning to cool in the blind support of all things EU.
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At the UK launch of the DEMOS research last night, Christine Hbner, from German think tank d|part showcased her findings - revealing the image of the EU for Germans is beginning to change.
She said: Majorities or near majorities of Germans are quite afraid of further EU integration, but with regards to very specific topics.
They are very concerned with the loss of social security, given further EU integration.
On the other hand we also have a new majority saying that theyre afraid of a loss of national identity. which is very much at the opposite of looking at a potential loss of social security.
Lots of people are now saying we have to talk about what further integration to the EU is going to look like
Christine Hbner
According to her part of the research Ms Hbner found politicians were not accepting this was a current issue.
She said: There were lots of different concerns about further EU integration.
The countryside has reported to have the lowest image of the EU.
It was quite surprising to see how the politicians have difficulty grasping this.
Lots of people are now saying we have to talk about what further integration to the EU is going to look like.
The politicians werent quite aware of of this.
One MP of the Green Party said I dont think there is any EU related fear.
CDU said they hadnt had anyone in their constituency concerned about the loss of national identity.
There was a stark contrast between what was expressed and what politicians told the think tank.
DEMOS
Although Ms Hubner added: It is not going to be the Germans bringing the EU down.
According to the report, written by Sophie Gaston, perception in Germany has plummeted faster than ever before - although it remains the country least likely to rock the EU boat.
She wrote: Germany is perhaps less Eurosceptic than other places in Europe, recurring crises in the EU have left their mark on German society and public opinion towards the EU.
The German public has recently shown signs of increasingly Eurosceptic attitudes.
On the one hand, more Germans than ever agree that membership in the EU is a good thing (71 per cent) and that overall their country has benefited from EU membership (62 per cent).
At the same time, after a first low during the Eurozone crisis in 2010/11, the EUs image in Germany is on the decline, and faster than before.
In spring 2016 only 29 per cent of Germans said the EU conjured up an overall positive image.
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The report studied party politics, social cohesion, public policy and the rhetoric and opinions of citizens of five countries.
Those countries which were used as a barometer for the rest of Europe included France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
In Germany, the report found: Sizeable numbers of Germans participating in our survey expressed strong fears about the impact of the EU.
DEMOS discovered in every country, there is either a majority or a substantial minority in favour of reducing the EUs powers or leaving it altogether.
Germany remained the most pro-European of the six with 48 per cent wishing to keep the stars quo - or increase EU powers and just 16 er cent wanted to leave.
DEMOS
The research found although large minorities or even majorities in Britain, France, Germany and Sweden feared for the future of the EU getting worse in 2017, the Union is not beyond saviour.
It states: Attention should focus on how elites can restore trust in the fundamental institutions of our democracies, better articulate the myriad, shared benefits and strength of open societies, and encourage more diverse, challenging and free public debate on issues important to peoples social and cultural identity.
There is no doubt that we are living through a transition that feels cataclysmic in nature disruptive, challenging and potentially dangerous. But the question as to whether this is the beginning or the end of something has not yet been decided.
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Merkel's nightmare: Now GERMANS question Chancellor's dreams of European Union superstate - Express.co.uk