Support for a common EU defense policy fell sharply to 48 percent in early May, compared with the 54 percent in February, said a poll published in the Soendagsavisen weekly.

"The war in Iraq and the crisis at the heart of the divided European Union resulted for some in a loss of confidence in European ability to cooperate on defense," said Iben Tybjaerg Schacke of the International Studies Institute.

EU members found themselves bitterly divided over the Iraq war, with France and Germany leading the opposition to the conflict and Britain, Spain and Denmark supporting US policy.

Support for the euro also slipped in the poll, which questioned 1,046 people between May 3-7.

Only 54 percent of Danes supported joining the 12-nation euro zone in early May, compared with 57 percent who supported the measure in February, the poll showed.

Some 35 percent of Danes opposed the euro, the same amount as in February, and 11 percent were undecided, compared with 8 percent in February, the poll said.

Denmark, along with Sweden and Britain, is an EU member who has declined to adopt the euro.

The Danish government has said a referendum on the issue would not be held before 2004-2005. Sweden will hold a referendum on September 14.

WAR.WIRE