The European Union_s reaction to Austria_s new coalition government has had a negative effect on Estonians.

Since Estonia regained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the country has decidedly been looking west: for trade opportunities, for political support and for security. In March of 1998 when Estonia began membership negotiations with the European Union, the government and the people were set forth on an accession path. Along the way, dissenters have opposed integration arguing that Estonia_s sovereignty will be usurped by a central European government. Estonian authorities have tried to temper fears that the EU will swallow the small Baltic nation and actually gained some ground last year, as a Saar opinion poll indicated that Estonians are warming to the issue of membership. But, the latest row between Austria and her 14 EU partners, have opinions of the bloc plummeting and politicians questioning how to go forward without compromising their respective relationships with Austria, the EU and their constituencies. In a recent Internet poll conducted by the daily newspaper, Postimees, 68 percent of the 1,352 Estonians who logged-on to register their views of the EU_s action toward Austria, said their opinions of the bloc had worsened because of the feud.