2003 Swedish euro referendum

A non-binding referendum on introduction of the euro was held in Sweden on 14 September 2003.[1] The majority voted not to adopt the euro, and thus Sweden decided in 2003 not to adopt the euro for the time being. Had they voted in favour, the plan was that Sweden would have adopted the euro on 1 January 2006.[2]

Eurozone participation
European Union (EU) member states
  19 in the eurozone.
  European Union member states which have applied to join ERM II (Bulgaria and Croatia).
  5 not in ERM II, but obliged to join the eurozone on meeting convergence criteria (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden).
  1 in ERM II, with an opt-out (Denmark).
Non-EU member states
  4 using the euro with a monetary agreement (Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, and Vatican City).
  2 using the euro unilaterally (Kosovo[lower-alpha 1] and Montenegro).
Results by county
  No
  Yes

The ballot text was "Do you think that Sweden should introduce the euro as currency?" (Swedish: Anser du att Sverige skall införa euron som valuta?). Sweden in Europe was the main umbrella group campaigning for a Yes vote. The No vote campaign was led by two organisations, representing left (Folkrörelsen Nej till EU) and right wing politicians respectively. The political parties were divided. The Centre Party, Left Party and Green Party were against. The Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberal People's Party were for. The Social Democrats did not take a position due to internal disagreements.

Background
Main article: Sweden and the euro

Sweden joined the European Union in 1995 and its accession treaty has since obliged it to join the euro. However, one of the requirements for eurozone membership is two years' membership of ERM II, and Sweden has chosen not to join this mechanism and as a consequence tie its exchange rate to the euro ±2.25%. While there is government support for membership, all parties have pledged not to join without a referendum in favour of doing so.

Results
Main article: Results of the 2003 Swedish euro referendum

The voter turnout was 82.6%, and the result was 55.9% against and 42.0% in favour.[1] A majority of voters in Stockholm county voted in favour of adopting the euro (54.7% "yes", 43.2% "no"). In Skåne and Stockholm counties the "yes" votes (49.3%) outnumbered the "no" votes (48.5%), although the invalid and blank votes resulted in no majority for either option. In all other parts of Sweden, the majority voted no.[3][4] Among municipalities, a majority of those in western Skåne, and in Stockholm county, voted yes. Kungsbacka and Haparanda also voted "yes". All other municipalities voted "no".

Summary of
the referendum		 Votes Percent
Yes 2,453,899 42.0
No 3,265,341 55.9
Blank votes 121,073 2.1
Total 5,840,313 100
Invalid votes 3,475
Eligible voters 7,077,502
Turnout 5,843,788 82.6

Source: Nationalencyklopedin[5]
See also: Swedish Election Authority[6]

See also

Notes
  1. Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the 2013 Brussels Agreement. Kosovo is currently recognized as an independent state by 97 out of the 193 United Nations member states. In total, 112 UN member states recognized Kosovo at some point, of which 15 later withdrew their recognition.

References
  1. "Folkomröstningar 1922-2003" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 21 December 2007. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
  2. "Heikensten: The Riksbank and the euro". Sveriges Riksbank. 2003-06-17. Archived from the original on 14 December 2007. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  3. "Sweden. Euro Referendum 2003". Electoral Geography. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
  4. "Riksöversikten" (in Swedish). Valmyndigheten. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  5. "Folkomröstning: Tabell: Folkomröstningar i Sverige". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 May 2011. (subscription required)
  6. "Nationella folkomröstningar" (in Swedish). Swedish Election Authority. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2011.
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