26 May, 2000
Inquiries: Statistics Finland, Mr Markku Nieminen,
Statistician, +358 9 1734 2616
Europe Information, Ms Päivi Toivanen, Publishing Editor, +358 9
1341 5846
Survey of Finns' views on EU: EU membership advantage to enterprises, disadvantage to farmers
Finns view Finland's EU membership as an advantage to enterprises and wage and salary earners but as a disadvantage to farmers. Finnish citizens think Finland's membership in the EU has increased their knowledge about the rest of the EU and made travelling and job hunting in the other Member States easier. On the other hand, they believe that it has increased bureaucracy and that regional differences will grow in the next few years.
Statistics Finland recently carried out a survey concerning the Finns' views about the impact of Finland's EU membership on the citizens' everyday life. Nearly 3,000 Finns aged between 15 and 74 were questioned in the survey commissioned by the Europe Information unit of the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ths ruvey was carried out between March and April 2000 in all Finnish regions.
Markka will be missed
Nearly two out of five respondents thought that giving up the Finnish markka was a bad thing. Changing the currency meant nothing to about one in four, while 28 per cent of those surveyed reckoned giving up the national currency was a good thing. Nearly 60 per cent of the respondents in Southern Ostrobothnia thought that giving up the Finnish markka was a bad thing whereas more than half of the respondents in Åland were in favour of it.
Two out of three of those surveyed would have liked to see popular referenda held about major decisions concerning the EU. Support for this was especially strong in Kainuu, where 80 per cent of those surveyed were of the opinion that referenda should be held. The only region where the majority of respondents were against the holding of referenda was Åland.
Presidency had influence
Over one half of the surveyed Finns believed that Finland had influenced decision-making in the EU during its Presidency period. About one in three disagreed with this. The greatest numbers of those in doubt were in Åland, Kainuu and Kymenlaakso. Two out of five respondents said Finland's Presidency had increased their interest in EU matters.
Of all the respondents 47 per cent thought citizens are not given enough information about EU matters. Almost as many, or 42 per cent, thought there was enough information. One in three had heard about the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Europe Information unit, or its regional offices, at some time. Those best aware of it were found in Uusimaa, while knowledge about it was poorest in Åland and North Savo.
Source: Finns' opinions about the impact of EU
membership
Europe Information and Statistics
Finland.
www.eurooppa-tiedotus.fi