Candidates may decide not to join EU - report

The Wall Street Journal said polls show that on average a thin 52 per cent majority support EU membership in the 10 countries…

Some of the 10 countries whose applications for EU membership are set for approval at the summit in Copenhagen may eventually decide against joining, it was reported today.

The Wall Street Journalsaid polls show that on average a thin 52 per cent majority support EU membership in the 10 countries, with support at 45 per cent in the Czech Republic, and barely over 30 per cent in Estonia.

"Some citizens are a little bit concerned, particularly about the fact that 10 years after we won our sovereignty, it seems that we'll lose it again," Mr Alojz Peterle, the former prime minister of Slovenia, was cited as saying.

Each of the 10 candidate countries has to officially accept membership, and all plan referendums next year, with the first in Hungary in April, it noted.

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Anti-EU political movements have sprung up in nearly every candidate country, according to the report.

In Latvia, where polls show 49 per cent of voters favor joining the EU and 35 per cent oppose it, the government says it won't feel comfortable until membership has backing of at least 60 per cent, the report said.

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