One-third of EU against enlargement

BRUSSELS, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Over a third of European Union citizens oppose further enlargement of the 25-nation block, the EU Observer reports.

In a poll conducted in October and November, 35 percent of citizens said they are against enlargement, while 53 percent are in favor and 12 percent are unsure. The poll was taken months after the EU expanded by 10 countries.

Those against EU enlargement came from the 15 "old" member states. Austria and Germany had the highest percentage of citizens against further enlargement, with Austria at 62 percent and Germany at 57 percent.

In France, 51 percent said they were against further enlargement.

Negotiations between Turkey and the EU are expected to begin next week.

According to EU Communications Commissioner Margot Wallstrom, the poll did not include specific questions on Turkey's accession to the EU.

She said EU institutions would have to "invest in creating more information and building the cultural bridges between Turkey and the European Union."

Eurobarmoter queried about 1,000 people Oct. 2-Nov. 8. The poll had a margin of 1.9- to 3 percent.