2003 Swedish euro referendum

2003 Swedish euro referendum

13 September 2003 (2003-09-13)
Do you think that Sweden should introduce the euro as currency?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 2,453,899 42.02% No 3,265,341 55.91% Blank votes 121,073 2.07% Valid votes 5,840,313 99.94% Invalid votes 3,475 0.06% Total votes 5,843,788 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 7,077,502 82.57%
Constituency Results Municipality Results Results Yes   50%-60%   60%-70%   70%-80% No   50%-60%   60%-70%   70%-80%   80%-90%

Eurozone participation

European Union member states

(special territories not shown)

  20 in the eurozone

  1 acceding member, effective 1 January 2026 (Bulgaria)

  1 in ERM II, with an opt-out (Denmark)

  5 not in ERM II, but committed to join the eurozone on meeting the convergence criteria (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Sweden)

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 and Montenegro)

• v
• t
• e

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]

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  [ sv ]) and right-wing politicians respectively. The political parties were divided, with the Centre Party, Left Party and Green Party being against, and the Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberal People's Party being for. The Social Democrats did not take a position due to internal disagreements.

As of 2025, this is the most recent referendum in Sweden.

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.

Debates

2003 Swedish euro referendum debates

Date	Time	Organizers	Moderators	P  Present   I  Invitee  N  Non-invitee
				S	M	L	KD	V	C	MP	Refs
4 juni 2003		Swedish Confederation of Professional Employees	Mats Knutson  [ sv ]	P Göran Persson	P Bo Lundgren	P Lars Leijonborg	P Alf Svensson	P Ulla Hoffmann	P Maud Olofsson	P Peter Eriksson	[3] [4]

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 voted in favour of adopting the euro (54.7% "yes", 43.2% "no"). In Scania 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. ^{[5] [6]} Among municipalities, a majority of those in western Scania, and in Stockholm, 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 ^[7]
See also: Swedish Election Authority ^[8]

See also

• Sweden and the euro
• Referendums in Sweden

References

1. "Folkomröstningar 1922-2003" (in Swedish). Statistics Sweden. 21 December 2007. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. 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. EMU-omröstningen 2003 - Partiledardebatt i juni 2003 - Hela debatten, 7 October 2013, retrieved 2024-02-01
4. Lindham, Elisabeth; Ritzén, Jessica (2003-06-04). "EMU-matchen" [The EMU match]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 2025-12-10.
5. "Sweden. Euro Referendum 2003". Electoral Geography. 10 September 2003. Retrieved 26 December 2008.
6. "Riksöversikten" (in Swedish). Valmyndigheten. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
7. "Folkomröstning: Tabell: Folkomröstningar i Sverige". Nationalencyklopedin (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 May 2011.(subscription required)
8. "Nationella folkomröstningar" (in Swedish). Swedish Election Authority. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2011.