Nearly 75 percent of Norwegian voters are now opposed to joining the European Union (EU), following months of turmoil within the EU and the crisis around the euro.
The record high opposition amounted to 74.7 percent, according to the results of a new public opinion poll conducted by research firm Sentio for newspapers Klassekampen and Nationen. Only 15.2 percent of voters questioned thought Norway should join the EU, while the rest were undecided.
Opposition to the EU has long been firm in Norway’s rural districts, where residents fear loss of their agricultural subsidies and other government-backed support aimed at keeping the outlying areas populated. The opposition has now grown in such Norwegian cities as Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger, where support for the EU has been the strongest.
Opposition has also grown within high-income groups. It traditionally was strongest among low-income groups of people who also feared loss of state welfare programs, but now fully 71 percent of those earning more than NOK 1 million per year (USD 180,000) also are against joining the EU.
Views and News staff
