Support for euro, EU has grown in Estonia - survey

Photo: Elmo Riig / Sakala

Estonians' support for the European Union and the common euro currency has risen and the percentage of firm supporters has grown, it appears from a fresh survey.

The change in attitudes is significantly influenced by the foreign policy and security situation, the Government Office said.

According to the study Faktum & Ariko pollsters conducted for the Government Office in November, 84 percent of Estonians supported the country's membership in the EU. Compared to an analogous survey from last year, support for the EU has grown by four percentage points. The growth was above average in the oldest age group, among the lowest-paid residents and rural residents. Support for the single currency has jumped 14 percentage points to an all-time high of 78 percent.

A remarkable change has occurred in the structure of support for EU membership. The share of firm supporters has grown in all population groups including Russian-speakers, stateless persons and nationals of other countries. Faktum & Ariko survey manager Kalev Petti said this suggests that respondents more and more clearly perceive Estonia's affiliation as separate from Russia.

Similarly to the 2013 study, education and research and agriculture and regional development are seen as the two most important areas to be supported from the EU budget. Security has risen to third place, with 38 percent of the polled attaching importance to it compared with 21 percent a year earlier, which the pollsters said reflects the changed security situation.

As regards activity in the EU, construction of infrastructure to connect Estonia with the rest of Europe such as Rail Baltic and energy links wth Nordic countries continues to be regarded as the most important goal, with 42 percent support. Ensuring stability of the euro was named by 40 percent of respondents.

Faktum & Ariko conducted telephone interviews with 500 residents aged 15-74 from Nov. 20 to 27 for the survey.