EU poll shows deep division over sharing of sovereignty

HALF the Irish electorate believes there should be more voting by majority at ministerial meetings of an enlarged EU, a survey for the European Commission has found.

And, while the figure closely reflects the EU average, significantly more Irish respondents than the average believe there should be more voting by unanimity (44 per cent to 36 per cent).

The poll reveals a deeply split citizenry on the issue that epitomises a willingness to share sovereignty and is the key question facing the treaty-changing Inter governmental Conference. Throughout the Union only 3 per cent favour retaining the present system, and 9 per cent have no view.

Surprisingly, given the deep hostility of both the British government and opposition, a majority of British respondents (50 per cent) favour more majority voting, while only 42 per cent want greater use of the veto.

The most integrationist are the Finns (66 per cent) and the Italians (60) while the least in favour of more majority voting are the Greeks (35 per cent).

Ireland can take comfort from the fact that 72 per cent of European respondents agree that - even with an expanded membership - each member-state should retain a commissioner, a central IGC concern of Iveagh House.

Irish respondents are among the strongest supporters of the view that Europe is capable of being competitive in the world market without cutting welfare supports (56 per cent). Fourteen per cent of those polled in Ireland say welfare should be cut "a lot".

The Europinion survey, based on 800 telephone interviews in each country, shows a significant rise in awareness of the Inter-Governmental Conference, rising from 15 per cent in February to 31 per cent in April.

Four out of five Danes say they are aware of a debate about the future EU membership of the states of eastern and central Europe, twice the number of Irish respondents.