Nordics want to go 'northern'

The dream of certain eurosceptics in the Scandinavian countries to create a Nordic Union and get rid of the EU may be a pipe dream but a lot of people share it. That is the surprising conclusion from a recent survey published in the Danish Daily Politiken on 24 May.

The survey, done by Gallup, Senti-Norstat and TEMO, indicates that 45 per cent of Swedes are happy with the EU, whereas 49 per cent of them would prefer a Nordic Union. In Norway, which is not an EU member state (see

In Denmark, a reticent Member State since 1973, 31 years of European collaboration seem to have tempered the Nordic passion somewhat. But only up to a point. Thus, 47 per cent of the Danes would prefer the EU, with 44 per cent favoring a union with their Nordic cousins.

However, faced with a scenario in which such a Nordic Union would be able establish a collaboration with EU on areas such as trade and free movement, 51 per cent of the Danes would go Nordic with only 36 of them backing the EU affiliation.

Danish MEP Ole Krarup for 'The peoples movement against the EU' comments to Politiken: »The alternative, if Denmark or Sweden should vote against the constitution, is actually not new opt-outs. The government may threaten that Denmark would have to quit the EU. But that is in fact what many people would want.«

The Danish veteran eurosceptic Jens Peter Bonde (an MEP since 1979) of the 'June-movement' is less enthusiastic about the Nordic option: "I do not think it would stand a chance as an alternative to European co-operation. As long as we are in the EU, that is the one agenda."

Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller and his Swedish colleague Laila Freivalds both politely reject the idea of a Nordic Union.