Referendum in Slovenia in 2003 on accession to the European Union and NATO

EU enlargement 2004: Slovenia other candidate countries European Union




On March 23, 2003, a referendum was held in Slovenia on the question of membership of the European Union and membership of NATO . Both EU accession and NATO membership were supported by a majority of voters.

prehistory

After the fall of the Iron Curtain and the collapse of the Soviet Union , communist Yugoslavia also began to disintegrate. On December 23, 1990, a referendum took place in Slovenia, in which almost 90% of the voters spoke out in favor of the independence of the former Republic of Slovenia from Yugoslavia. On June 25, 1991, the two republics of Slovenia and Croatia declared their withdrawal from the Yugoslav state association. In the following years, Slovenia, which had become independent, sought to join Central and Western Europe, also because in parts of the former Yugoslavia ( Bosnia-Herzegovina , parts of Croatia , Kosovo ) conditions similar to civil war still prevailed. On July 15, 1997, Slovenia therefore applied for membership in the European Union. In March 1994 Slovenia entered into military cooperation with NATO under the Partnership for Peace . EU and NATO membership was supported by all major Slovenian political parties.

The EU officially recognized Slovenia's independence in January 1992. In June 1996 Slovenia applied for membership to the EU and in March 1998 negotiations between the EU and the Slovenian government began. The EU provided Slovenia with substantial funds to adapt the Slovenian economy, and in particular agriculture, to EU conditions. Before joining the EU and NATO, which was planned for 2004, the Slovenian government held a referendum in which the electorate was to be asked about joining the EU and NATO.

referendum

Two questions were asked in the referendum that could be answered independently of each other:

"Ali se strinjate, da Republika Slovenija postane članica Evropske unije (EU)?"

"Do you agree to the proposal that the Republic of Slovenia join the European Union?"

- First question of the referendum of March 23, 2003

and

"Ali se strinjate, da Republika Slovenija postane članica Organizacije Severnoatlanske pogodbe (NATO)?"

"Do you agree with the proposal that the Republic of Slovenia become a member of NATO?"

- Second question of the referendum of March 23, 2003

As a result, the voters voted with a clear majority in favor of the country joining the EU and NATO:

First question: EU membership

choice	be right	%
Therefore	869.171	89.64
On the other hand	100.503	10.36
Votes cast	974.558	-
Invalid / blank ballot papers	4,884	-
Total valid votes	969.674	100
Source: Slovenian Electoral Commission

Second question: NATO membership

choice	be right	%
Therefore	637.882	66.08
On the other hand	327.463	33.92
Votes cast	974.524	-
Invalid / blank ballot papers	9,179	-
Total valid votes	965.345	100
Source: Slovenian Electoral Commission

The turnout for both questions was 60.2%.

As a result of the referendums, Slovenia joined NATO on March 29, 2004 and, as part of the EU's eastward expansion , joined the European Union on May 1, 2004.

Individual evidence

1. ^ Anton Bebler: Historical view and future perspective: SLOVENIA AND NATO. (PDF) Retrieved July 11, 2015 . 
2. ↑ European Commission> Enlargement> Archives: Relations with Slovenia. May 1, 2004, accessed July 12, 2015 . 
3. ↑ POROČILO O IZIDU GLASOVANJA IN O IZIDU REFERENDUMA O PRISTOPU REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE K EVROPSKI UNIJI, KI JE BIL 23 MARCA 2003. (PDF) Slovenian Electoral Commission, accessed on July 12, 2015 (Slovenian). 
4. ↑ POROČILO O IZIDU GLASOVANJA IN O IZIDU REFERENDUMA O PRISTOPU REPUBLIKE SLOVENIJE K ORGANIZACIJI SEVERNOATLANTSKE POGODBE (NATO), KI JE BIL 23 MARCA 20032003. (PDF) Slovenian Electoral Commission July 12, 2015 .