Austrians' confidence in EU grows in wake of financial crisis: poll

(VIENNA) - The notoriously euro-sceptic Austrians have regained confidence in the European Union as a result of the global financial crisis, a new survey showed Tuesday.

According to the latest poll by the Austrian Society for European Policy, OeGfE, 78 percent of Austrians are in favour of their country remaining in the EU, compared with 59 percent in the summer.

That is the highest number in six years and the third-highest reading since the poll was launched in 1995, OeGfE said.

Only 16 percent of the population is in favour of Austria quitting the EU, compared with 32 percent in the summer.

Furthermore, 67 percent of Austrians believe that Austria can overcome the crisis with the EU's help while just 15 percent thought their country could solve the problems on its own, the survey showed.

Earlier this year, the euro-bashing tabloid daily Kronen Zeitung, read by one in four Austrians, helped fan popular scepticism towards the EU to such an extent that politicians called for a possible referendum on quitting the EU.

The ruling Social Democrat party, SPOe, even suggested that a referendum be held on any EU treaty in future, a position that eventually led to the collapse of the SPOe's coalition with the conservative People's Party (OeVP).

Austria is seen as one of the main beneficiaries of Europe's eastward enlargement and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the 27-nation bloc.

But Vienna has frequently clashed with Brussels over issues such as road transport and genetically modified foods.

In 1994, 66.6 percent of Austrians voted in favour of EU membership and the Alpine state joined the bloc in 1995.