One in three Italians has no views on Turkey joining the EU: poll

ROME, Dec 20 (AFP) - One in three Italians is indifferent to whether Turkey joins the European Union, while the rest of the country is divided on the issue, according to a poll published Monday.
Some 37 percent of people said they had no views either way on Turkey's membership of the EU in a poll carried out by the Eurispes Institute.
Some 34.2 percent said they were in favour, while 28 percent said they were against the idea.
The poll of 1,000 people is the first in Italy for several months, and was carried out between November 25 and December 2.
In Italy the debate on Turkey's bid for EU membership has been stirred by the xenophobic, right-wing Northern League which rallied thousands around anti-Turkish slogans in demonstrations in Milan on Sunday.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has however strongly backed Ankara's entry into the EU.
EU leaders on Friday reached a deal setting October 3, 2005 as the start date for negotiations with Ankara on its eventual adhesion to the EU, but also laying down numerous conditions.

12/20/2004 12:25 GMT - AFP