As before, decision-making in energy issues is felt to be distant. People feel that they have few chances to influence these matters. Six out of ten (60%) think that their opinions have not been sufficiently heard in energy decisions. This opinion has been dominant throughout the follow-up period of the study. The latest information refers to decreasing criticism [Figure 26.]

There proved to be extensive confidence in the legislation and official control relating to energy solutions. The claim underlying this issue 'Legislation and official control guarantee in Finland that no power plants which are hazardous to the environment or human beings are built' is considered true by more than one in two respondents (53%), while the proportion of sceptics is one in four (25%). As this is a new question, there is no follow-up information available on this (no figure).

When the aspect of control is extended to the level of the European Union, opinions become less certain. Although the role of the EU as an 'overseer' of the national practices in nuclear power questions is as such considered recommendable, it is not believed that this would directly benefit our own country. This is how the results of the two new questions can be interpreted. The claim 'Decisions about regulations concerning safety of nuclear power and nuclear waste should be made jointly at the EU level, not in each member country separately' is agreed with (53%) much more than disagreed with (28%). The reaction to the extended claim 'If the EU issues common safety standards on nuclear power, they would enhance safe use of nuclear power also in Finland' is more sceptical. Less than one in three (30%) agree, and less than one in three (29%) do not agree (no figures).

Naturally, the government does not have the sole right to decision-making in energy matters. Companies also make energy-related decisions, and their strategic policies are the greater the more the conventional steering power of society moves over to the markets. However, independent decision-making by companies arouses mistrust amongst the population. Fewer than one in three (29%) accept the idea that companies should be able to decide for themselves which energy sources they use for producing electricity. This right is rejected by almost half of respondents (46%). There may be several kinds of factors behind this attitude. It may be partly due to the fact that people want to keep decision-making on nuclear power as it stands, i.e. requiring official confirmation. The present result does not essentially differ from the earlier result [Figure 27.].

People's opinions on energy matters and decisions are, or at least they should be, based on pure facts. Earlier studies have indicated that energy information is not withheld as such, and people do not feel that they are living in a vacuum in that respect. More than half of respondents (53%) agree with the view that there is a sufficient amount of reliable information available on energy matters. However, more than one in four (28%) are not satisfied with the available amount of information. The distribution is a little more approving than before. At the same time, confidence in the availability of reliable information is - albeit by a narrow margin - greater than ever before [Figure 28.].