HELSINKI, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Finns increasingly expect the European Union (EU) to protect its members, strengthen security and reduce harmful dependencies amid a turbulent global environment, according to a survey released Friday by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA.
The survey, conducted in March as part of EVA's values and attitudes study series, found that Finns now view the EU not only as an economic bloc or regulatory body, but also as a geopolitical actor responsible for safeguarding stability and resilience.
Timo Miettinen, senior advisor at Sitra and lead author of the memorandum based on the survey, said Finns expect the EU to act more effectively in strengthening Europe's security, safeguarding critical resources and improving its capacity to respond to geopolitical uncertainty.
According to the survey, 79 percent of respondents supported strengthening EU self-sufficiency in critical technologies and products. Investment in food security and energy production was also widely regarded as important.
The findings also showed that 77 percent of respondents believed Europe should reduce its technological and economic dependence on the United States, while still viewing the United States as an important security partner.
On trade policy, the survey indicated that Finns do not favor isolation, but support a managed shift toward broader international partnerships.
Ilkka Haavisto, research director at EVA, said attitudes toward the EU remain broadly positive in Finland, adding that willingness to deepen EU integration is now significantly stronger than in the past. ■
