2003 Estonian European Union membership referendum

none Are you in favour of joining the European Union and adopting amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia? 2003 09 14 y Estonia 369,657 183,454 2,724 867,714 200px Results by county 200px Results by municipality 1 For #B6C8D9 50%–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid#7D9CBB 60%–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid#47729E 70%–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid Against #DEDEBD 50%–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid#BCBC83 60%–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #8B8B54 70%–80% 1px #AAAAAA solid A referendum took place on 14 September 2003 to decide whether Estonia should join the European Union (EU). Just over two-thirds of voters voted Yes and Estonia joined the EU on 1 May 2004. As of 2025, this was the most recent referendum in Estonia. Background Membership of the European Union was one of the main objectives of Estonian foreign policy since independence in 1991. Estonia was invited to begin negotiations to join the EU in 1997 and was formally invited to join at a summit in Copenhagen in December 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1107800.stm Timeline: Estonia 2008-02-10 BBC Online 2009-08-05 The Parliament of Estonia then announced that a referendum on membership of the EU would be held in mid September 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2587209.stm Stockholm sets euro vote question 2008-02-10 2002-12-18 BBC Online Referendum question The question to be voted on in the referendum was agreed by the Government of Estonia in December 2002. http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/?c=ireland&jp=idkfcweygb https://archive.today/20130218000305/http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/?c=ireland&jp=idkfcweygb dead 2013-02-18 Estonian parliament to hold EU referendum 2008-02-10 2002-12-18 Ireland On-Line It was: Are you in favour of the accession to the European Union and passage of the Act on Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia? http://www.vvk.ee/rh03/yldinfo/englinfo.stm EU Referendum 2003: Information 2008-02-10 Estonian National Electoral Committee Campaign Opinion polls in the first half of 2003 showed only lukewarm support for membership. This persuaded leading politicians including President Arnold Rüütel, Prime Minister Juhan Parts and the Speaker of Parliament Ene Ergma to start campaigning hard for a Yes vote.http://www.balticsww.com/European%20Union%20_%20referendum%20_%20news.html EU Referendum New 2008-02-10 City Paper dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070705173403/http://www.balticsww.com/European%20Union%20_%20referendum%20_%20news.html July 5, 2007 The economy was one of the main issues used by both sides in the referendum campaign. Supporters of joining the EU said that it would fuel growth and create more jobs, while opponents said that EU entry would slow the growth of the Estonian economy. Opponents also argued that Estonia should not go straight from one union, the Soviet Union, into the EU. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,967912,00.html Estonians Say "Jah" to the EU 2008-02-10 2003-09-15 Deutsche Welle The Yes campaign had strong media, political and financial backing with the Estonian Centre Party being the only leading party against entry into the EU. Posters for the Yes campaign predominated, with one poster handed out by the Res Publica Party calling for Estonians to vote Yes 'for access to millions of sexier men'. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3107000.stm Estonia expects EU yes vote 2008-02-10 2003-09-14 BBC Online http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article1158999.ece Estonia endorses 'sexy men' of EU 2008-02-10 2003-09-15 The Times London Clem CecilSeptember 2024 medicmedic As the vote neared, polls showed increasing support for the Yes camp with one poll showing 70% support for EU entry. http://www.gateway2russia.com/st/art_135585.php Estonian support for EU entry rises to 70 percent 2008-02-10 2003-09-02 Gateway To Russia April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes Results 369657 183454 2724 867714 EU Referendum 2003 References External links Full results by county Turnout by county Estonia Category:Referendums in Estonia Category:Referendums related to European Union accession European Category:2003 in international relations Estonia Category:Estonia and the European Union Estonia