Wednesday

7th Jun 2023

Poll reveals big change in Norwegian public opinion on EU

A majority of Norwegians are still opposed to membership of the EU, but the lead has narrowed dramatically in recent weeks.

The no side was leading polls consistently by 10-15 per cent in the first half of the year, but according to a new poll published by Norwegian daily Nationen the gap between the two blocs has narrowed to just 3.8 percent.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

  • Norwegians have rejected EU membership twice - in referendums held in 1972 and 1994 (Photo: EUobserver)

Now 46.8 percent would vote against membership in a referendum, while 43 per cent would vote yes. Last month only 38.3 percent said they would vote yes while 48 per cent said they would vote no.

"A new room will open for EU discussion in Norway if the tendency continues and we will be ready for it, said Heming Olaussen, leader of the Norwegian cross-party No to EU organisation, according to Nationen.

Both the yes and the no fronts were taken by surprise by the new poll, which questioned 1000 people and was conducted by the Sentio institute between 25 and 31 July.

"There has been no major events during the past month that indicated a turn to the yes", said Grete Berget, secretary general of the pro-EU European Movement.

Meanwhile Iceland, the other Nordic country outside the EU appears to be moving in the opposite direction.

The chairman of the Social Democratic Alliance, Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, said in an interview with the Icelandic TV station NFS that the party was prepared to put its policy of entering membership negotiations with the EU aside in order to be able to participate in a coalition government after the next general election due in May next year.

The Social Democratic Alliance is the only political party in Iceland in favour of entering membership negotiations with the EU, all other parties are against the idea.

Interview

Part of EU middle class 'being squeezed out', MEP warns

EUobserver interviewed Spanish MEP Jordi Cañas to discuss the situation of Europe's middle class, the dangerous political reaction if certain groups feel neglected, and the role that member states and the EU can play at the policy level.

MEPs to urge block on Hungary taking EU presidency in 2024

"This will be the first time a member state that is under the Article 7 procedure will take over the rotating presidency of the council," French Green MEP Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield, the key lawmaker on Hungary, warned.

European Parliament scales back luxury MEP pension fund

The European Parliament's Bureau, a political body composed of the president and its vice-presidents, decided to slash payouts from the fund by 50 percent, freeze automatic indexations, and increase the pension age from 65 to 67.

Letter

Right of Reply from the Hungarian government

Authors Samira Rafaela MEP and Tom Theuns present as facts the extreme views of a politically-motivated campaign in the European Parliament. By doing so, they undermine the very foundations of the European Union.

Latest News

  1. Final push for EU-Mercosur deal, amid deforestation fears
  2. Ministers given 50/50 chance of reaching EU asylum deal
  3. EU Commission wants better focus on mental health care
  4. Right of Reply from the Hungarian government
  5. True scale of horror in today's Belarus hard to comprehend
  6. Israeli settlers encircling Jerusalem, EU envoys warn
  7. No clear 'Qatargate effect' — but only half voters aware of EU election
  8. Part of EU middle class 'being squeezed out', MEP warns

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. International Sustainable Finance CentreJoin CEE Sustainable Finance Summit, 15 – 19 May 2023, high-level event for finance & business
  2. ICLEISeven actionable measures to make food procurement in Europe more sustainable
  3. World BankWorld Bank Report Highlights Role of Human Development for a Successful Green Transition in Europe
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersNordic summit to step up the fight against food loss and waste
  5. Nordic Council of MinistersThink-tank: Strengthen co-operation around tech giants’ influence in the Nordics
  6. EFBWWEFBWW calls for the EC to stop exploitation in subcontracting chains

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us