Poll: General population less enthusiastic about EU enlargement than European Parliament candidates

Public debate underscores differences among incumbent MEPs

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A poll commissioned by Helsingin Sanomat indicates that nearly 40% of Finns feel that enlargement of the European Union is a good thing. Almost as many take a neutral stand, while 15% are against it.
      The poll reveals that the general population is more sceptical towards enlargement than candidates for the European Parliament.
      Answers given by the candidates on the Vaalikone, or candidate selection engine of the Helsingin Sanomat web site, show that 70% of the candidates feel that enlargement was a good thing, while only 14% took a neutral view.
     
When examined by party affiliation, supporters of the Green League were most favourable toward EU enlargement. The breakdown among green supporters was quite similar to that among all of the candidates.
      Supporters of the National Coalition Party and the Social Democrats took a much more positive view of EU enlargement than supporters of the Centre Party and Left Alliance.
     
The breakdown among professions showed that farmers took the most negative view of EU enlargement, with 44% saying that taking on new members was a negative development.
      White-collar professionals and those in management positions took the most positive view of enlargement.
      Men were more supportive of enlargement than women. Regionally, the most pro-enlargement part of the country was the Helsinki region.
     
The issue of EU enlargement came up during the third public debate organised by Helsingin Sanomat and the television channel Nelonen at Sanoma House in central Helsinki on Thursday.
      Invited to the debate were all incumbent MEPs who are seeking re-election. All but one came.
      Riitta Myller (SDP) said that many Finns take a wary view of enlargement because they have incorrect information about the process. She noted that the old EU countries are the first to benefit from the expanded internal market.
      While the Finnish EU membership dues are increasing, Eija-Riitta Korhola (Nat. Coalition) noted that this is an indication that the Finnish economy is doing well.
      Matti Wuori (Green) said that in addition to the recent enlargement, it is important to help establish stability outside the EU. He said that Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, and the whole Middle East must be linked more cloesly with EU cooperation.
      Paavo Väyrynen (Centre) said that countries outside the EU should be offered opportunities for cooperation through the Council of Europe and the Organisation on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which would make them think a bit longer before submitting their membership applications to the EU.
     
There was a greater division in opinions on the issue of free movement of labour in the EU.
      Riitta Myller came out in favour of the two-year waiting period imposed by a number of present member states, including Finland, before allowing citizens of the ten new EU countries to freely immigrate and work here.
      Piia-Noora Kauppi (Nat. Coalition) sharply disagreed. Her view was that the waiting period was a big mistake in a situation in which more people are leaving the job market than joining it.
      Ulla-Maija Aaltonen (Green) dismissed the idea that Finland would be the target of a flood of immigration.
      Esko Seppänen (Left Alliance) noted that there are thousands of undocumented foreigners working at construction sites around Finland, pushing down Finnish wages and occupational safety regulations.
      Reino Paasilinna (SDP) suggested punitive tariffs on countries where workers are mistreated. He predicted that the EU could get the support of the United States for such a move.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Poll: Majority of Finns want to keep strong national defence (3.6.2004)
  Poll: Nearly half of Finns favour Finnish candidate for Commission leadership (2.6.2004)
  Sanoma House public debate launches final stretch of European election campaign (2.6.2004)

Helsingin Sanomat