EU opposition in Norway falls after attacks: poll

(OSLO) - Seven out of 10 Norwegians are against joining the European Union, a poll showed Thursday, attributing the record opposition to the debt crisis but also hinting the July 22 attacks had dampened resistance to the bloc.

The Sentio poll, published by the Nationen daily, showed that 71.1 percent of those questioned said "nei" to Norway becoming an EU member, 18.7 percent said "ja" and 10.2 percent remained undecided.

Norwegians, who rejected membership for their oil-rich nation in two referendums held in 1972 and 1994, have become increasingly hostile to joining the EU as it has plunged deeper into a sovereign debt crisis.

The poll, which was conducted partly before and partly after the deadly twin attacks, shows a slight shift of opinions after the massacre however.

Just before the attacks carried out by rightwing, nationalist extremist Anders Behring Breivik, 73.4 percent of those polled said they were opposed to joining the EU while 17.1 percent were in favour.

The gap narrowed somewhat after the bombing and shooting, with 68.8 percent voicing opposition and 20.1 percent saying they favoured joining the EU.

According to political scientist Frank Aarebrot, the shift could be attributed to the outpouring of sympathy for Labour Party leader and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, whose party was the target of the massacre.

The Labour Party largely favours EU membership but has agreed to let the question lie to avoid upsetting its euroskeptic coalition partners, the Centre Party and Socialist Left Party.