Constitution (2004)

REFERENDUMS HELD ON EUROPEAN MATTERS: 2

1994: EU - Accession (Yes 53 % - No 47 % - Turnout 83 %)
2003: Introduction of the Euro (No 56 % - No 42 % - Turnout 83 %)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS - Constitution of Sweden

Binding referendum provided if constitutional amendment effected. Otherwise binding referendum requires implementation by constitutional amendment. Consultative referendum expressly provided.

PROCEDURE

The government considered the Amsterdam Treaty as a further transfer of rights to the EU. However, in accordance with Chap. 10, § 5, para. 1, the treaty was not considered to transfer rights directly based on the constitution, but only giving the Union the provision to decide about future transfers. Therefore, a 3/4 majority was considered sufficient for ratification. On 12 February 1998 the government introduced the ratification bill, which implied the modification of the existing constitutional provisions for Sweden’s access to the EU (No. 1997/98: 58). On 29 April the Riksdagen approved the bill (226 in favor, 40 opposing, 7 abstaining).

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS AND MATERIAL

Thurner, P.; Stoiber, M. (2001), Comparing Ratification Processes within EU Member States: The Identification of Real Veto Players, Mannheim Centre for European Social Research.