Referendums Related To The European Union - Enlargement of 2004

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 and Cyprus. 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:

• Malta - 53.6% in favour (8 March 2003)
• Slovenia - 89.6% in favour (23 March 2003)
• Hungary - 83.7% in favour (12 April 2003)
• Lithuania - 89.9% in favour (10-11 May 2003)
• Slovakia - 92.5% in favour, turnout 52.1%) (16-17 May 2003)
• Poland - 77.5% in favour (7-8 June 2003)
• Czech Republic - 77.3% in favour (13-14 June 2003)
• Estonia - 66.8% in favour, turnout 64,1% (14 September 2003)
• Latvia - 67.0% in favour (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.