Tegenstanders toetreding tot EU organiseren zich (en)

A leading member of the Norwegian governing party, the Christian Democratic Party, has become involved in a secret network which opposes EU membership.

Initiated by Centre Party leader, Åslaug Haga, the parliamentarian leader of Norway's ruling Christian Democratic Party, Jon Lilletun and the Socialist Left Party have met to gear up for the expected third battle over Norwegian EU membership.

"We have been preparing over the last couple of months and we are engaged in educating our people. We are about to build up No to EU [Norway's anti-EU movement] and the broad alliance, which prepared the ground for success in 1972 and in 1994", Mrs Haga explained to Aftenposten.

"We are getting a forum established together with people from trade unions, agriculture, fisheries and the political parties. This is only the beginning, up to now there has mainly been contacts at the informal level", she said.

Sensitive for the Prime Minister

The issue is sensitive as the leader of the participating Christian Democratic Party, Kjell Magne Bondevik, is the prime minister of Norway.

He is heading the current Norwegian coalition government made up of the Conservative Party, the Christian Democratic Party and the Liberal Left. These three parties disagree on EU membership but have agreed not to raise the issue during this Parliament.

Mr Lilletun dismissed the question of whether the Christian Democratic Party would have to leave government when engaging actively on the No-side.

According to Mr Lilletun, the Conservative Party, which is also a member of the ruling coalition, has also been pushing the EU question lately.

"The contacts are non binding. It is a natural thing that the no-parties get together. As it looks like the yes-parties have decided to run this case, the work must be intensified", Mr Lilletun told Aftenposten.

He would not confirm whether the prime minister had been informed about the network.

Norway has already held two referendums on EU membership, in 1972 and 1994. Both ended with victory for the 'no' side.

The discussion over EU membership is expected to heat up again in the run-up to the next election, which will be held in September 2005.