IOGT-NTO möter EU : En analys av IOGT-NTO:s debatt kring förhandlingarna och inträdet i EU i tidningen Accent

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this study is to find out how IOGT-NTO conducted the debate about the Swedish negotiations with EU concerning the accession. The essay investigates how the debate was conducted between the years 1993, 1994 and 1995. A further distinction lies in five requirements IOGT-NTO delivered before the negotiations. The material for this study lies primarily in the editorial pages of IOGT-NTO's magazine Accent. The background content comes primarily from secondary sources and deals with the temperance movement and IOGT-NTO, and dealing with the EU and the Swedish alcohol policy. In July 1991, Sweden submitted its membership application to EU and subsequently in the 1993 the negotiations began. During the same time IOGT-NTO began its debate on a possible EU membership in the Accent magazine. Foremost is the weight of three requirements, the maintenance of monopoly, the preservation of national freedom of action and a Nordic cooperation during the negotiations and later after membership in EU. On January 1th 1995 Sweden was included in EU and the negotiations have led to that Sweden has lost three out of four monopolies, only Systembolaget was allowed left. Of the requirements the monopoly highlights the most, seven out of 17 editorial pages are about the monopoly. Of the four arguments aspects of health, economic, moral, and the national aspect it is foremost the health and the national aspect that is discussed. The overall objectives with IOGT-NTO’s debate on membership in EU were short-term and concerned the outcome of negotiations. Based on the results of the negotiations it can be concluded that IOGT-NTO could not influence the negotiations enough for Sweden to retain all its restrictive alcohol policy. However, they did not surrender, but started with the temperance movement in Europe the group EUROCARE with its new base in Brussels to be closer to those decisions.