Only 14 percent in the North say yes to EU

EU flagEU flag.Photo Norway Today Media

74 percent of those who live in Northern Norway says no to Norwegian EU membership. Only 14 percent would opt for Norway to join the union.

The poll, conducted by Infact for NRK and Avisa Nordland, is showing an overwhelming majority against the EU. 13 percent of respondents answered “do not know”. Opposition is greatest among those who are between 45 and 64 years old. 79.1 percent of this age group say they are against EU membership.

Nordland’s resistance is even clearer now than during the referendum in 1994. Then 28.6 per cent voted for membership, whilst 71.4 percent voted against.
Ivar Kristiansen in NHO Nordland is not surprised by the result, but believes Norway and the region has lost out by being outside.

– It has meant that the region has not had the economic growth and population growth we could have had. We have also missed out on tremendous wealth creation because our fishing industry is outside EU and  we are now marginalized.
Chairman of the Norwegian Fishermen’s Association however, Kjell Ingebrigtsen , fells the clear no- vote in the North is reassuring. He believes there are many advantages in the North, especially the fish which is utilized much better when on their own.

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