Finns Have Mixed Feelings About EU Membership

Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb (L) speaks with EU enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn before an EU General Affairs Council meeting on April 27, 2009 in Luxembourg. (John Thys/AFP/Getty Images)

GOTHENBURG, Sweden—Finns have difficulty pinpointing whether membership in the European Union has had positive or negative consequences for Finland, according to a survey carried out by the white-collar union, Finnish Confederation of Professionals.

In the study conducted in April, 1,183 Finnish citizens were questioned about their opinions considering the pros and cons of EU membership.

Respondents pointed to free travel, the euro and stable interest rates as general advantages, reported the broadcasting company YLE on Sunday, May 3.

The negative effects of EU membership included perceived higher prices, heightened regional disparity, and problems associated with immigration.

According to the survey, Finns believe that farmers have been on the losing side in the 14 years that Finland has been a member of EU.

On the other hand, the respondents thought that entrepreneurs and companies have drawn the most benefit from Finland’s membership in the 27-nation union that covers a large part of Europe and has a population of nearly half a billion.

In general, the respondents had a difficult time determining whether EU membership has in reality helped or hurt the situations of wage earners, pensioners, or students.

In the future, Finns expect the euro to be adopted by all member states. Respondents also said they would like to see a streamlining of refugee and immigration policy on the EU level. However, they don’t expect the EU to develop in a federalist direction.