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 (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, in order for a referendum to pass, 50% of 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 in order for the referendum to pass, while still having the requirement for turnout to be over 50%. In order 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. Parliament then set the date for EU referendum to be the 10-11 May and set the question for the vote.cite web| url = http://www.sussex.ac.uk/sei/documents/epernbreflith.pdf | title = Referendum briefing No 8: The Lithuanian EU accession referendum 10-11 May 2003 | accessdate = 2008-02-23 | publisher = "European Parties Elections and Referendums Network"]

Referendum question

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

"I am for Lithuania's membership of the European Union".

Campaign

An information campaign on the European Union was begun in 2000 and involved the Elderships of Lithuania and 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.

Virtually all of Lithuania's major political parties supported membership of the EU and opinion polls as the date approached. showed about 65% of voters would vote yes.cite web| url = http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/05/11/lithuania.referendum/ | title = Turnout fear in Lithuania EU poll | accessdate = 2008-02-23 | date = 2003-05-11| publisher = "CNN"] The President of Lithuania Rolandas Paksas, who used to compete in aerobatics competitions, flew around Lithuania in his plane performing stunts to raise enthusiasm.cite web| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/05/12/wlith12.xml | title = Lithuanians bury Soviet era in vote to join EU | accessdate = 2008-02-23 | date = 2003-05-12| publisher = "The Daily Telegraph"] The campaign was very one-sided with only a poorly organised No campaign based on milk producers, Russian speakers and right wing nationalists.

Turnout

The biggest concern for the yes campaign was whether turnout would reach the 50% required in order for the referendum to be valid. After the first day of voting turnout was only 30% and both the President and Prime Minister appeared on TV to urge Lithuanians to vote.cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/europe/3020243.stm | title = Press hails Lithuanian vote | accessdate = 2008-02-23 | date = 2003-05-12| publisher = "BBC Online"] There was a surge in voting on the Sunday with many people voting after church services.cite web| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2003-05-12-lithuania-eu_x.htm | title = Lithuanians celebrate outcome of EU vote | accessdate = 2008-02-23 | date = 2003-05-12| publisher = "USA Today"] Lithuanian supermarkets also had a campaign on the second day of voting, offering cheaper beer, chocolate and soap to those who showed they had voted. In the end there were queues outside some voting booths and turnout was over 60%, safely over the required level.cite web| url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article1131332.ece | title = Lithuania passes test of faith to vote in favour of joining European Union | accessdate = 2008-02-23 | date = 2003-05-12| publisher = "The Times"]

Results

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.cite web| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/europe/3018983.stm | title = EU welcomes Lithuania vote | accessdate = 2008-02-23 | date = 2003-05-12| publisher = "BBC Online"]

ee also

*Referendums in Lithuania

References

External links

* [http://www.electoralgeography.com/new/en/countries/l/lithuania/lithuania-eu-membership-referendum-2003.html Results by region]