Which state enters the Eurozone next?

[Jens]

Slightly OT - with Denmark and Iceland likely joining soon, how does this effect:

Sweden's likelihood of a new Euro referendum and
Norway's likelihood of going it alone (well, with Switzerland) in the EFTA for much longer.

From what I heard, Norway was always likely to apply for EU membership if Iceland joined and vice versa, because each country is afraid that, if the other one joins alone, it will get all the good fishing deals from Brussels.

I would like to see a poll on the euro in Sweden...

It's a lot more complex than that. Norway is in no way dependent on fishing like Iceland. Norway is in the quite special situation that one of the centrist parties, Senterpartiet (Centre party) is against EU-membership and since Norway also is extremely rich (think oilstate) they don't really need a EU-membership.

[Jens]

I also think Italy will leave in the near future, perhaps 2010. Ireland will eventually (+10 years) leave it. Estonia and some other states will join.

Hilarious - Italy leaving! Italy can't afford to leave the EMU. - And Ireland, why on earth should Ireland leave the EMU?

[Jens]

After Berlusconi is gone (which will be awhile) and this economic crisis is over, I think Italy will leave.

Why? Italy benefits from the EMU.