War may be driving Swedes towards voting to join eurozone

WAR in Iraq may be convincing Swedes that a united Europe is needed, a bank said yesterday, as it published the first poll for weeks showing advocates of joining the euro zone ahead of their opponents.

A monthly poll by Danske Bank showed support for switching to the euro in Sweden rose to 49% this month from 47% in February while opposition fell to 47% from 50%. Swedes will vote on whether to adopt the European Union’s common currency on September 14. The last time a poll showed the “Yes” camp in the lead was on January 31.

“The ‘Yes’ side’s progress in March may have been spurred by the United States’ decision to deal with Iraq almost on its own without the backing of the UN,” Danske Bank said in a statement accompanying the poll, which surveyed 1,500 people. “This may have caused some Swedes to view the euro as a means of creating a united Europe that could offset the US superiority. Prime Minister Goran Persson . . . voiced this argument recently.”