Swedes changing their minds on EC

By Gosta Lynga

In June 1991 the Swedish Parliament authorised the government to apply for membership in the European Community. Only the Green Party and the Left Party were unanimously against this decision.

Since membership of the EC means handing over some power of decision to an international body, a change of constitution is necessary. Thus the final decision on membership cannot be taken until after the 1994 elections.

Opinions are now changing fast as more facts become known. In December SIFO (the Swedish Institute For Opinion polls) found that 48% of the Swedish people wanted membership of the EC, while 24% were against. The SIFO poll for March showed that now 44% are for and 36% against.

It seems clear that business and industry want Sweden to join, while people who might be hit by increasing unemployment and deteriorating social services prefer continued economic independence for Sweden.

Among the supporters of the largest political party, the Social Democrats, the number of voters positive to the EC has sunk to 33%, and a demand for a party referendum has been raised by the Social Democrat Youth.

[Based on reports in Internationalen (Sweden).]

From GLW issue 53