The research series, launched by the Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA) in 1992, studies Finnish public opinion on EU integration. Views are probed on Finland's EU membership, the future and enlargement of the EU, European economic and fiscal policy, EMU, the European Parliament, Finnish security policy, EU subsidies and European integration as a whole. In addition, the surveys canvass citizen satisfaction with the availability of EU-related information, as well as with the way the Finnish Government and Parliament have handled EU issues.
Starting from 2001, the surveys also cover opinions on international issues in general. Background information includes age, gender, education, economic activity, occupational group and trade union membership. Respondents have been asked which party they would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held at the time of the study. Data are collected once a year, although for the first three years, the surveys were conducted twice a year. The surveys are commissioned by EVA, and usually carried out by Yhdyskuntatutkimus.
The survey studied Finnish citizens' satisfaction with the EU membership and the way Finnish officials handle EU issues, their attitudes towards the future of the Union, and views on security policy. The respondents were asked how interested they are in matters related to Finland's EU membership, how they feel about the membership, and what should Finland aim at under its EU presidency. Views on the European integration and EU enlargement were surveyed. The respondents were asked to assess the way various bodies (the government, organisations, public officials, private enterprises, the media, etc.) handle EU issues. Opinions on what would happen if the EU enlarged to Eastern Europe were surveyed.
Background variables included the respondent's gender, age group, size of municipality of residence, province of residence, basic and vocational education, economic activity, trade union membership, and which party R would vote for if the parliamentary elections were held at that time.
The material was collected through a mail survey. There were 1,277 respondents in all, representing the Finnish population aged 18-70 years, the Åland Islands excluded. The essential demographic, social and regional factors correspond to the population structure. The questionnaire was in Finnish and the survey was carried out in two waves (original questionnaire survey and one additional query).