SWEDEN: Sweden's main political parties have agreed a date for a referendum on whether to adopt the single European currency. On September 14th next year Swedes will decide if the krona should be traded in for the euro.
The date was set after agreement between the seven parliamentary political parties most in favour of Sweden joining the single monetary union.
The Green Party had not wanted a referendum for four years but agreed the decision was "OK" , according to Swedish radio. Prime Minister Mr Göran Persson told journalists he was pleased with the date.
The decision comes at a time when support for the euro is declining. Recent polls indicate that Swedish opinion has cooled, and a majority is now opposed to membership in the European single currency. A recent survey from the Sifo Institute shows that opposition to joining the Euro zone has risen from 34 to 41 per cent. Those in favour have fallen from 47 to 37 per cent. Another poll shows the sides as neck and neck, with 14 per cent still undecided.
However, the setting of the referendum date post-summer is seen as being favourable towards the "yes" side.
Then many Swedes will have just returned from holiday destinations where the use of the euro is widespread. Already this is the view of frequent travellers who find the use of the krona cumbersome. The national currency has been doing well against the euro and stood at 9,0525 after the announcement. Party leaders will meet again next month to decide how the referendum question will be phrased and how the campaign will be financed.
Sweden joined the EU in 1995 and, with Denmark and Britain, are the only members which have not adopted the euro.