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.

ARTICLES ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, REFERENDUM AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Approval of transfer of sovereignty without effect of constitutional amendment:
Majority from parliament according to the particular area of competency required, X § 2 ConstSweden.

Approval of transfer of sovereignty with effect of constitutional amendment:
Approval in the way of a constitutional amendment. The procedure provided for the constitutional amendment can be excluded with a majority of 5/6 by presence of at least 3/4 of the members of parliament in case of urgency. Limit for transfer are the fundamental principles of the constitution, X § 5 ConstSweden.

Approval of constitutional amendment:
Two successive approvals in between at least nine months before and after re-election of the parliament. The constitutional committee can allow an earlier second consent with a majority of 5/6 of its members. A referendum on the amendment has to be held contemporaneous with the election of the new parliament if demanded by 1/10 of the members of parliament and approved by at least 1/3 from the members of parliament, VIII § 15 ConstSweden.

Other constitutional regulations about referendums:
Consultative referenda can be called, VIII §4 ConstSweden.

RATING AND DEBATE

On 20.11.2008 the Swedish parliament voted to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, making the Scandinavian country the 25th of the 27 EU members to approve the text. The Treaty was approved with 243 votes in favour, 39 against and 13 abstaining, while 54 members of parliament were absent. The opposition Left Party and Green Party had tried to build a 48-vote blocking minority to put off ratification for one year. But the four parties in the centre-right government coalition and the main Social Democrat opposition party pushed through the EU document. The debate concentrated on Sweden's collective labour agreements and transfer of sovereignty. Swedish collective labour agreements - in which workers' groups agree pay with employers - came to the fore in a European Court of Justice verdict in 2007. The court ruled in favour of Latvian company Laval in a case concerning the town of Vaxholm, clearing the way for cheap eastern European labour to enter the Nordic country.

Eurobarometer (2006), The Future of Europe - Results for Sweden, Special Eurobarometer 251, Fieldwork: 23/02 – 15/03 2006. (PDF)

PROCEDURE

Parliamentary vote

STATE OF THE PROCEDURE

On 20.11.2008 the Swedish parliament voted to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, making the Scandinavian country the 25th of the 27 EU members to approve the text. The Treaty was approved with 243 votes in favour, 39 against and 13 abstaining, while 54 members of parliament were absent.

DATE OF RATIFICATION

20.11.2008

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