Referendum in Estonia on joining the European Union

Res Publica election campaign poster to vote

In a referendum on September 14, 2003 , the voters of Estonia had to decide on the country's accession to the European Union . More than two thirds of those who voted voted for membership, which took place on May 1, 2004.

prehistory

Since Estonia gained independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union , accession to the European Union has been a goal of Estonian politics. It was hoped that this would support economic development, the strengthening or revival of old cultural ties to Central and Western Europe, which had been lost during the time of Soviet rule, and also a strengthening of Estonia's position vis-à-vis its large neighbor Russia. In 1997, negotiations on EU membership began and Estonia was represented at the EU summit on December 12-13. December 2002 officially invited to join the European Union as a member state. The Riigikogu then decided to consult the population in a referendum on the question of membership.

The question put to the electorate on September 14, 2003 and answered with 'yah' or 'ei' (yes / no) was:

"Kas Teie olete Euroopa Liiduga ühinemise ja Eesti Vabariigi põhiseaduse taiendamise seaduse vastuvõtmise poolt?"

“ Are you in favor of the Republic of Estonia joining the European Union and amending the constitution accordingly? "

- Estonian Electoral Commission : question from the referendum of 14 September 2003

Results

The following table shows the results of the referendum in the individual regions of Estonia. The turnout nationwide was 64.06%.

Graphic representation of the voting result

circle	electoral legitimate	Voters	Invalid votes	Yes		No
				number	%	number	%
Harju County ( Harju maakond )	79598	54123	202	37670	69.86	16251	30.14
Circle Hiiu ( Hiiu maakond )	8524	5613	26th	3793	67.89	1794	32.11
District of Ida-Viru ( Ida-Viru maakond )	65049	36370	171	20634	57.00	15565	43.00
Jõgeva County ( Jõgeva maakond )	28879	17316	100	11309	65.69	5907	34.31
Järva County ( Järva maakond )	29980	18901	65	12886	68.41	5950	31.59
County Lääne ( Lääne maakond )	21022	13287	51	8759	66.18	4477	33.82
County of Lääne-Viru ( Lääne-Viru maakond )	48350	29406	161	19315	66.05	9930	33.95
Põlva County ( Põlva maakond )	25471	14701	93	9043	61.90	5565	38.10
Pärnu County ( Pärnu maakond )	67328	42982	172	28573	66.74	14237	33.26
Rapla County ( Rapla maakond )	28256	18066	72	11597	64.45	6397	35.55
Saare district ( Saare maakond )	28869	17825	65	11084	62.41	6676	37.59
Tartu County ( Tartu maakond )	36319	22033	109	14967	68.27	6957	31.73
Valga district ( Valga maakond )	25008	15028	76	9314	62.29	5638	37.71
Viljandi County ( Viljandi maakond )	44264	27268	134	18494	68.16	8640	31.84
Võru County ( Võru maakond )	30813	18888	89	10955	58.27	7844	41.73
City of Tallinn ( Tallinna linn )	227361	156779	554	107405	68.75	48820	31.25
City of Tartu ( Tartu linn )	72623	47249	584	33859	72.56	12806	27.44
Estonia as a whole	867714	555835	2724	369657	66.83	183454	33.17

Individual evidence

1. ^ Estonians Say "Jah" to the EU. Deutsche Welle, September 15, 2003, accessed October 27, 2013 (English). 
2. ^ Sarah Rainsford: Estonia expects EU yes vote. BBC News, September 14, 2003, accessed October 27, 2013 . 
3. ^ Estonia Profile. BBC News, February 5, 2013, accessed October 26, 2013 . 
4. ↑ Stockholm sets euro vote question. BBC News, December 18, 2002, accessed October 26, 2013 . 
5. ↑ Rahvahääletus September 14, 2003: Riigikogu otsus. Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon, accessed October 26, 2013 (Estonian). 
6. ↑ Haäletamistulemus. Vabariigi Valimiskomisjon, accessed October 26, 2013 (Estonian).