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Angus Reid Global Monitor : Polls & Research
More in Norway Support EU Accession
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - People in Norway are still divided on whether their country should join the European Union (EU), according to a poll by Sentio-Norsk Statistic published in Klassekampen. 41.8 per cent of respondents are in favour of Norway's accession to the EU, while 48.2 per cent oppose it.
Support for Norway joining the EU grew by 5.8 points in two years.
Norway has topped the United Nations (UN) Human Development Index as the best country to live in every year since 2001. The Scandinavian nation is regarded as a wealthier state than other EU members due to oil revenues. The country rejected EU membership in plebiscites held in 1972 and 1994.
In September 2005, Norwegian voters renewed the Stortinget (the Norwegian Parliament). Final results gave the Red-Green alliance—encompassing Labour, the Socialist Left and the Agrarians—87 seats in the 169-member legislative branch. Labour leader Jens Stoltenberg—who held the highest office from March 2000 to October 2001—took over as prime minister for the second time.
In late June, Stoltenberg criticized the EU's new policy to fight global warming, calling it "protectionist" because it limits the amount of offset carbon dioxide emission quotas that can be bought from developing countries. In a newspaper interview, Stoltenberg said he disagrees with the policy, adding, "The EU wants most of the offset quota purchases to be made within the EU."
Polling Data
Would you support or oppose Norway's accession to the European Union (EU)?
Jun. 2007 | Jun. 2005 | |
Support | 41.8% | 36.0% |
Oppose | 48.2% | 51.5% |
Unsure | 10.0% | 12.5% |
Source: Sentio-Norsk Statistic / Klassekampen
Methodology: Interviews to 1,000 Norwegian citizens, conducted in June 2007. No margin of error was provided.