Referendums related to the European Union
Encyclopedia
This is a list of referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...

s related to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...

.

Enlargement of 1973

- Before allowing the new candidate member states to join the European Communities
European Communities
The European Communities were three international organisations that were governed by the same set of institutions...

, founding member France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 held a referendum on 23 April 1972. The turnout was 60.72%, with 68.28% in favour.

Following that approval, three of the four candidate states (Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...

) likewise held referendums on the issue of joining the European Communities
European Communities
The European Communities were three international organisations that were governed by the same set of institutions...

. The results were:
- 83.1% in favour
Third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
The Third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland permitted the state to join the European Communities and provided that European law would take precedence over the constitution...

 (10 May) - 53.5% against (25 September) - 63.3% in favour
Danish European Communities membership referendum, 1972
A referendum on joining the European Economic Community was held in Denmark on 2 October 1972. The result was 63.3% in favour with a turnout of 90.1%...

 (2 October)

Following the rejection by the Norwegian electorate (53.5% against), Norway did not join.
The Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...

 government of Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....

 did not hold a referendum before the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 joined. Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...

's manifesto for the 1974 general election
United Kingdom general election, October 1974
The United Kingdom general election of October 1974 took place on 10 October 1974 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. It was the second general election of that year and resulted in the Labour Party led by Harold Wilson, winning by a tiny majority of 3 seats.The election of...

 included a pledge for a referendum, so after Labour won under Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...

, the referendum was held on whether to remain in the Communities. The result was 67.2% in favour, with a turnout of 64.03%.

Single European Act

On 26 February 1986, Denmark held a referendum
Danish Single European Act referendum, 1986
A non-binding referendum on the Single European Act was held in Denmark on 27 February 1986. It was approved by 56.2% of voters, with a turnout of 75.4%....

 on the Single European Act
Single European Act
The Single European Act was the first major revision of the 1957 Treaty of Rome. The Act set the European Community an objective of establishing a Single Market by 31 December 1992, and codified European Political Cooperation, the forerunner of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy...

. With a turnout of 74.8%, the 56.2% of those voting were in favour.
The Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
The Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland permitted the state to ratify the Single European Act. It was effected by the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1987, which was approved by referendum on 26 May 1987 and signed into law on the 22 June of the same year...

 permitted Ireland to ratify the Single European Act
Single European Act
The Single European Act was the first major revision of the 1957 Treaty of Rome. The Act set the European Community an objective of establishing a Single Market by 31 December 1992, and codified European Political Cooperation, the forerunner of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy...

. It was approved by referendum on 26 May 1987. The result of the referendum was 69.9% in favour.

Maastricht Treaty

Three countries held referendums on the ratification of the treaty of Maastricht: France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...

 and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

.
  • referendum
    Eleventh Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
    The Eleventh Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland permitted the state to ratify the Maastricht Treaty. It was effected by the Eleventh Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1992, which was approved by referendum on 18 June 1992 and signed into law on the 16 July of the same year.-Changes to the...

     of 18 June 1992


Result was a majority of 68.7% in favour. Turnout was 57.31%.
  • referendum
    French Maastricht Treaty referendum, 1992
    A referendum on the Maastricht Treaty was held in France on 20 September 1992. It was approved by just over 51% of the voters. The result of the referendum, known as the "petit oui", along with the Danish "No" vote are considered to be signals of the end of the "permissive consensus" on European...

     of 20 September 1992


The treaty was verified with a slim margin of victory of 51.05% in favour. Turnout was 69.69%.


In Denmark, two referendums had to be held before the treaty of Maastricht passed. The first was held
Danish Maastricht Treaty referendum, 1992
A referendum on the Maastricht Treaty was held in Denmark on 2 June 1992. It was rejected by 50.7% of voters with a turnout of 83.1%. The rejection was considered somewhat of a blow to the process of European integration, although the process continued...

 on 2 June 1992, had a turnout of 82.9% but approval of the treaty of Maastricht was denied by a slim margin, with only 49.3% in favour of the treaty.

After that defeat of the treaty, Denmark negotiated and received the following four opt-outs from portions of the treaty: Economic and Monetary Union
Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union
The Economic and Monetary Union is an umbrella term for the group of policies aimed at converging the economies of members of the European Union in three stages so as to allow them to adopt a single currency, the euro. As such, it is largely synonymous with the eurozone.All member states of the...

, Union Citizenship, Justice and Home Affairs and Common Defense. A new referendum was held
Danish Maastricht Treaty referendum, 1993
A second referendum on the Maastricht Treaty was held in Denmark on 18 May 1993. After rejecting the treaty in a referendum the previous year, this time it was approved by 56.7% of voters with an 86.5% turnout.-Background:...

 on 18 May 1993. There was a turnout of 85.5% of which the 56.77% voted in favour of the renegotiated treaty.

Enlargement of 1995

The 1994 referendums on membership of four new nations were as follows:
- 66.6% in favour
Austrian European Union membership referendum, 1994
A referendum on European Union membership was held in Austria on 12 June 1994. The question asked was Shall the National Council's decision on the Constitutional Law concerning the Accession of Austria to the European Union be enacted as law?. The result of the vote was 66.6% in favour, with a...

 (12 June) - 56.9% in favour
Finnish European Union membership referendum, 1994
An advisory referendum on joining the European Union was held in Finland on 16 October 1994. 56.9% of voters approved of the proposal, with a voter turnout of 70.8%.-Results:...

 (16 October) - 52.8% in favour
Swedish European Union membership referendum, 1994
A referendum on membership for the European Union was held in Sweden on 13 November 1994.The voter turnout was 83.3%, and the result was 52.3% for and 46.8% against.-Result:Source: NationalencyklopedinSee also: Swedish Election Authority-References:...

 (13 November) - 52.2% against (28 November)

Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 and Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

 were admitted on 1 January 1995. As the referendum in Norway was 52.2% against joining, the proposal by the Norwegian government to join was rejected for the second time.

The Åland Islands
Åland Islands
The Åland Islands form an archipelago in the Baltic Sea. They are situated at the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia and form an autonomous, demilitarised, monolingually Swedish-speaking region of Finland...

, a dependency belonging to Finland, also voted (on 20 November 1994) on their accession to the European Union. With a turnout of 49.1% the result was 73.64% in favour, which means that EU law would also apply to the Åland Islands.

Treaty of Amsterdam

Two countries held referendums on the ratification of the treaty of Amsterdam: Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

 and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...

.
  • referendum
    Eighteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
    The Eighteenth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland permitted the state to ratify the Amsterdam Treaty. It was effected by the Eighteenth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 1998, which was approved by referendum on 22 May 1998 and signed into law on the 3 June of the same year.-Changes to the...

     of 22 May 1998


Result was a majority of 61.74% in favour. Turnout was 56.2%.
  • referendum
    Danish Amsterdam Treaty referendum, 1998
    A referendum on the Amsterdam Treaty was held in Denmark on 28 May 1998. It was approved by with 55.1% of voters with a turnout of 76.2%. The Treaty subsequently came into effect on 1 May 1999.-Background:...

     of 28 May 1998


Result was a majority of 55.1% in favour. Turnout was 76.24%.

Treaty of Nice

- Irish referendums on Treaty of Nice
In 2001 Irish voters rejected the Treaty of Nice by 53%, but with only 34% of the electorate voting, while in 2002 they accepted the Treaty
Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland
The Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland permitted the state to ratify the Treaty of Nice. It was effected by the Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 2002, which was approved by referendum on 19 October 2002 and signed into law on 7 November of the same year...

 by 63% with 50% of the electorate voting.

Enlargement of 2004

In 2004 the new enlargement of the European Union involved ten new member states, eight from Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Mediterranean islands of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...

 and Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...

. Referendums about the accession were held in each of these nations, with the exception of Cyprus.

The 2003 referendums dates (in four of the countries, a two-day ballot is held), and the outcomes in each of the candidate countries, are as follows:
- 53.60% in favour
Maltese European Union membership referendum, 2003
The 2003 Maltese European Union membership referendum took place on Saturday, 8 March 2003 to decide whether Malta should join the European Union . A narrow majority voted in favour of joining but the opposition Labour Party rejected the result of the referendum...

 (8 March 2003) - 89.61% in favour (23 March 2003) - 83.76% in favour
Hungarian European Union membership referendum, 2003
The 2003 Hungarian European Union referendum took place on 12 April 2003 to decide whether Hungary should join the European Union . Over 80% of those who voted supported membership and Hungary joined the EU on 1 May 2004.-Background:...

 (12 April 2003) - 89.95% in favour
Lithuanian European Union membership referendum, 2003
The 2003 Lithuanian European Union referendum took place from 10 May to 11 May 2003 to decide whether Lithuania should join the European Union...

 (10-11 May 2003) - 92.46% in favour
Slovak European Union membership referendum, 2003
The 2003 Slovak European Union referendum took place on 16–17 May 2003 to decide whether Slovakia should join the European Union . Over 90% of those who voted supported membership and Slovakia joined the EU on 1 May 2004.-Results:-External links:*...

 (16-17 May 2003) - 77.45% in favour
Polish European Union membership referendum, 2003
Polish European Union membership referendum in 2003 also known in Poland as European referendum or accession referendum concerned accession of Poland to the European Union and ratification of the Treaty of Accession 2003 by Poland...

 (7-8 June 2003) - 77.33% in favour
Czech European Union membership referendum, 2003
A referendum on joining the European Union was held in the Czech Republic on 7 and 8 June 2003. The proposal was supported by 77.3% of voters, with a turnout of 55.2%...

 (13-14 June 2003) - 66.83% in favour
Estonian European Union membership referendum, 2003
The 2003 Estonian European Union membership referendum took place on 14 September 2003 to decide whether Estonia should join the European Union . Just over two-thirds of voters voted Yes and Estonia joined the EU on 1 May 2004.-Background:...

 (14 September 2003) - 67.00% in favour
Latvian European Union membership referendum, 2003
The 2003 Latvian European Union membership referendum took place on 20 September 2003 to decide whether Latvia should join the European Union . Latvia was the last of the states which would join the EU in 2004 to hold a referendum on the issue...

 (20 September 2003)

Since the referendums results were all in favour of joining, ratification proceeded without problems and the candidate countries became full members of the EU on 1 May 2004.

Euro

Denmark and the United Kingdom received opt-outs from the Maastricht Treaty and do not have to join the euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...

 until they choose to do so; Sweden has not received an opt-out, yet refuses to join for now, as well. Two referendums have been held on the issue up to now, both of which failed:
- 53.2% against, turnout 87.6%
Danish euro referendum, 2000
A referendum on joining the Euro was held in Denmark on 28 September 2000. It was rejected by 53.2% of voters with a turnout of 87.6%.-Background:...

 on 28 September 2000 - 56.1%% against, turnout 81.2%
Swedish euro referendum, 2003
A referendum on introduction of the euro was held in Sweden on 14 September 2003.The voter turnout was 82.6%, and the suggestion failed by 55.9% against 42.0%. Sweden in Europe was the main umbrella group campigning for a Yes vote.-Result:...

 on 14 September 2003

European Constitution

Several member states used or intended to use referendums to ratify the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe
The Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe , , was an unratified international treaty intended to create a consolidated constitution for the European Union...

 (TCE).

The results were as follows: - 76.7% in favour (20 February 2005) - 54.68% against (29 May 2005) - 61.5% against (1 June 2005) - 56.52% in favour (10 July 2005)

Referendums were planned, but not held, in:
  • Czech European Constitution referendum
  • Danish European Constitution referendum
  • Irish European Constitution referendum
  • Polish European Constitution referendum
  • Portuguese European Constitution referendum
  • United Kingdom European Constitution referendum

Treaty of Lisbon

Only one member state, the Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...

, intended to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon
Treaty of Lisbon
The Treaty of Lisbon of 1668 was a peace treaty between Portugal and Spain, concluded at Lisbon on 13 February 1668, through the mediation of England, in which Spain recognized the sovereignty of Portugal's new ruling dynasty, the House of Braganza....

 through a referendum.
- 53.2% against (12 June 2008)

Since the vote by the Republic of Ireland on the Lisbon Treaty, the European Commission has stated that the Treaty would not force Ireland to change its view on issues such as abortion. The Irish voted again on the Lisbon Treaty on 2 October 2009. The vote was 67.13% in favour of the treaty.
- 67.13% for (2 October 2009)

Some have criticised the decision to hold a second Irish vote for a couple of reasons. Main opposition in the European Union comes from the United Kingdom Independence Party who argue the Irish public were ignored over their original vote and were being forced to vote again. UKIP also states that the concessions made to Ireland in relation to the Lisbon Treaty "are not worth the paper they are on and have no legal standing".

Others have argued that as Ireland has been given a guarantee that certain issues such as abortion will not be affected by the Treaty of Lisbon, the Irish people should vote again on the Lisbon Treaty with the concessions in mind, and that, given that every other Member State had approved the treaty, it was not unreasonable to ask the single country that rejected it to reconsider, especially in light of the guarantees offered.

Future enlargements

Countries which seek to join the European Union in the future
Enlargement of the European Union
The Enlargement of the European Union is the process of expanding the European Union through the accession of new member states. This process began with the Inner Six, who founded the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952...

 may hold a referendum as part of the accession process. In addition, Article 88-5 of the Constitution of France
Constitution of France
The current Constitution of France was adopted on 4 October 1958. It is typically called the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, and replaced that of the Fourth Republic dating from 1946. Charles de Gaulle was the main driving force in introducing the new constitution and inaugurating the Fifth...

 requires a referendum there to ratify any future accession treaty. Politicians in other existing members have proposed referendums in their states, particularly with reference to the accession of Turkey
Accession of Turkey to the European Union
Turkey's application to accede to the European Union was made on 14 April 1987. Turkey has been an associate member of the European Union and its predecessors since 1963...

.
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