Swedes warming to euro

  • 2002-06-13
  • Agence France-Presse, STOCKHOLM
Swedish support for the euro is on the rise with 56 percent of Swedes in favor of adopting the single European currency six months after its introduction in the 12 nations of the euro zone, a public opinion poll showed June 10.

The Skop survey showed support for the euro was up 4 percentage points since last month, while opposition dropped three points to 41 percent.

A total of 3 percent said they had no opinion on the issue.

Sweden is a member of the European Union but, like Britain and Denmark, is not a member of the euro zone.

Prime Minister Goeran Pers-son has said that Sweden would likely hold a referendum on the euro sometime during 2003, but has given no exact date.

Swedish support for the euro has gone up and down like a yo-yo in recent months.

Initially strongly opposed to greater European integration, Swedes gradually warmed to the euro after its introduction and more than half of Swedes were in favor of the new currency after two months.

But support then slipped in March and April, a drop analysts said was a result of the initial euphoria wearing off.