Helsinki, May 10: Citizens of Finland have expressed strong support for reducing the European Union’s economic and technological dependence on the United States and China. A recent survey revealed that a significant majority of Finns back the EU’s efforts to lessen this reliance.
According to a study published by two government-supported think tanks, the Finnish Innovation Fund (Sitra) and the Finnish Business and Policy Forum (EVA), 77% of respondents believe Europe should decrease its dependence on the US, even if it impacts bilateral relations. However, 9% of those surveyed opposed this view.
Researchers stated, “This is not directly anti-American. It seems that Finns differentiate between security cooperation and economic and technological dependence.”
Nearly three-quarters of respondents supported stricter restrictions on energy networks, ports, and other strategic assets for security reasons. Similarly, the same proportion advocated for supporting European firms in public procurement, even if it results in higher prices.
Furthermore, about 75% of respondents endorsed partnerships with emerging economies like India, Brazil, or Vietnam to reduce dependence on China.
Most participants indicated that security should take precedence over climate goals when necessary. Approximately two-thirds supported reducing Europe’s technological reliance on China regarding batteries and electric vehicles, even if it slows climate action.
According to the report from Yale, when asked which issues the EU should prioritize in the future, respondents ranked self-sufficiency and security as top concerns. About 65% emphasized the need for greater focus on common security, while 44% called for more attention to combating climate change.
This survey was conducted in March by Taloustutkimus, gathering responses from over 2,000 adults in mainland Finland and 34 experts invited from the EU. The margin of error is reported to be 2-3 percentage points in either direction.
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