Referendums Related To The European Union - Enlargement of 1973

Enlargement of 1973

• France - Before allowing the new candidate member states to join the European Communities, founding member France held a referendum on 23 April 1972. The turnout was 60.7%, with 68.3% in favour.

Following that approval, three of the four candidate states (Ireland, Denmark, Norway) likewise held referendums on the issue of joining the European Communities. The results were:

• Ireland - 83.1% in favour (10 May 1973)
• Norway - 53.5% against (25 September 1973)
• Denmark - 63.3% in favour (2 October 1973)

Following the rejection by the Norwegian electorate (53.5% against), Norway did not join.

• United Kingdom The Conservative government of Edward Heath did not hold a referendum before the United Kingdom joined. Labour's manifesto for the 1974 general election included a pledge for a referendum, so after Labour won under Harold Wilson, the referendum was held on whether to remain in the Communities. The result was 67.2% in favour, with a turnout of 64.0%.