Voters cool on joining EU family

  • 2002-08-08
  • Jorgen Johansson
RIGA

Baltic politicians may be determined to clinch European Union membership, but a new survey has sounded alarm bells about the level of support for accession among the countries' populations.

The survey by the EU's executive arm, the European Commission, puts support for membership in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania among the lowest of the 10 candidates for membership.

Conducted in early July the survey has Estonia bottom of the list with 38 percent support, just below Malta's 40 percent.

Latvia and Lithuania are slightly more positive, with 46 and 50 percent in favor respectively, but still well short of Euro-enthusiastic Hungary (70 percent) or Slovakia (66 percent.)

But the depth of Baltic opposition, or indifference, was downplayed by Michal Krejza, head of the European Commission's political and economic delegation in Estonia.

"All surveys conducted by the local Estonian polling company EMOR showed that EU support went up over the last year. In May their survey showed that 55 percent to 60 percent were in favor of joining while 35 percent were against and 5 percent were undecided," said Krejza.

"The difference in results depends on the methodology of these surveys. My understanding of Estonians is that they prefer to give cautious answers."

The European Commission's survey asked people to state categorically how they would vote in a referendum if it took place the following day.

EMOR's surveys give respondents a variety of more or less categorical answers to choose from.

"Most people here prefer to say they are rather in favor of joining," said Krejza.

Several indicators might contribute to a positive outcome in a referendum Estonia is expected to stage next year, said Krejza.

"We have a new president here (Arnold Ruutel) who can talk easily to rural people. The new government includes the biggest party, the Center Party, which is for EU accession and is trusted, and also EU skeptics started to be more active last year which forced EU supporters to work harder," said Krejza."That Estonia hosted the Eurovision Song Contest last year also made people see that the EU is an emotional network as well. And it is possible that the introduction of the euro, made visible mainly in Tallinn by Finnish tourists, could have positive effects."

Though the Brussels-run poll showed somewhat higher support in Latvia, the public there is far from whole hearted about accession.

"Latvians are always skeptical about new things - I think Latvians are rather cautious about how the bigger member states treat the smaller ones," said Foreign Ministry official Eduards Stiprais.

Latvian support was dented by the European Commission's proposals early this year on the future of agriculture, by which farmers in the new member states would initially receive just 25 percent of the support received by those in the current members.

The key to convincing the country is a committed and open campaign by its political leaders, said Stiprais.

"They must stop blaming the union for all small silly decisions they make as soon as they notice that the public is against them," said Stiprais.

But a full blown campaign to overcome traditional fears about encroachments on the country's independence will have to wait until next spring- after the dust has settled from October's national election and next year's budget has been approved, cautioned Edvins Inkens, chairman of Parliament's EU Affairs Committee.

"The word 'union' is not very accepted in our country considering our history under the Soviet Union," said Inkens.

Greater support for accession in Lithuania could be explained by the determination the government has shown in tackling public opinion, said Fernando Garces de los Fayos, chargé d'affaires at the European Commission's delegation to Lithuania.

"Either we are doing a very good job or the government is doing it. They have a very good program, and I am very impressed with the commitment they are showing," he said.