2003 Lithuanian European Union membership referendum

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2003 Lithuanian European Union membership referendum
10–11 May 2003 (2003-05-10 – 2003-05-11)
I am for Lithuania's membership of the European Union.
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 1,504,264 91.07%
No 147,527 8.93%
Valid votes 1,651,791 98.77%
Invalid or blank votes 20,526 1.23%
Total votes 1,672,317 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 2,638,886 63.37%
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The 2003 Lithuanian European Union referendum took place from 10 May to 11 May 2003 to decide whether Lithuania should join the European Union (EU). Over 90% of those who voted supported membership and Lithuania joined the EU on 1 May 2004.

Background

Lithuania was invited to begin negotiations to join the EU in December 1999 at a European Council summit in Helsinki and was formally invited to join the EU in December 2002 at a summit in Copenhagen.

In June 2002 and February 2003 the Lithuanian Parliament amended Lithuania's laws on referendums. Previously, for a referendum to pass, 50% of the voters had to vote and over 50% of all eligible registered voters had to support the proposal. After the amendment only a simple majority of participants in favour was required for the referendum to pass, while still having the requirement for turnout to be over 50%. To help reach the turnout requirement, the voting hours were extended, postal voting was allowed for 11 days before the referendum, and a second voting day was added. In January 2003 parliament then set the date for EU referendum to be the 10–11 May and set the question for the vote.[1][2]

Referendum question

Lithuanian voters were asked to vote yes or no to the statement:

I am for Lithuania's membership of the European Union.[1]

Campaign

An information campaign on the European Union was begun in 2000 and involved the

Catholic Church. Opinion polls, which at the end of 1999 had only 29% supporters of the EU, showed a steady rise in support in the years leading up to the referendum.[1]

Virtually all of Lithuania's major

right wing nationalists.[1]

Turnout

The biggest concern for the yes campaign was whether turnout would reach the 50% required for the referendum to be valid.

Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas appeared on TV to urge Lithuanians to vote.[5] Main reason for worry was that turnout might be as low as in Hungary just a month ago
.

There was a surge in voting on the Sunday with many people voting after church services.

voting booths and turnout was over 60%, safely over the required level.[7][8]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For1,504,26491.07
Against147,5278.93
Total1,651,791100.00
Valid votes1,651,79198.77
Invalid/blank votes20,5261.23
Total votes1,672,317100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,638,88663.37
Source: Nohlen & Stöver[9]

Celebrations were held in Lithuania's capital Vilnius following the referendum. A concert was held near the Presidential palace, President Paksas addressed the crowd saying "Hello Europeans!" and the Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas and parliamentary speaker Artūras Paulauskas cut a referendum cake. The European Commission President Romano Prodi congratulated Lithuania on the referendum result.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Referendum briefing No 8: The Lithuanian EU accession referendum 10–11 May 2003" (PDF). European Parties Elections and Referendums Network. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  2. ^ "Dauguma seimūnų pritaria narystės ES referendumo datai". DELFI. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2021-10-08.
  3. ^ a b "Turnout fear in Lithuania EU poll". CNN. 2003-05-11. Archived from the original on 2007-08-13. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  4. ^ "Lithuanians bury Soviet era in vote to join EU". The Daily Telegraph. London. 2003-05-12. Archived from the original on 2003-11-10. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  5. ^ "Press hails Lithuanian vote". BBC Online. 2003-05-12. Archived from the original on 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  6. ^ "Lithuanians celebrate outcome of EU vote". USA Today. 2003-05-12. Archived from the original on 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  7. ^ Boyes, Roger (2003-05-12). "Lithuania passes test of faith to vote in favour of joining European Union". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 2021-10-08. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  8. ^ http://www.krastas.lt/?data=2003-05-12&rub=1143711027&id=1146720611
  9. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  10. ^ "EU welcomes Lithuania vote". BBC Online. 2003-05-12. Archived from the original on 2003-12-26. Retrieved 2008-02-23.

External links

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