Austrian European Union membership referendum, 1994

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A referendum on European Union membership was held in Austria on 12 June 1994. [1] The question asked was Shall the National Council's decision on the Constitutional Law (Bundesverfassungsgesetz) concerning the Accession of Austria to the European Union be enacted as law?. The result of the vote was 66.6% in favour, with a turnout of 82.3%. [2] Austria joined the EU as part of the 1995 enlargement.

European Union Economic and poitical union of states located in Europe

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 28 member states that are located primarily in Europe. It has an area of 4,475,757 km2 (1,728,099 sq mi) and an estimated population of about 513 million. The EU has developed an internal single market through a standardised system of laws that apply in all member states in those matters, and only those matters, where members have agreed to act as one. EU policies aim to ensure the free movement of people, goods, services and capital within the internal market, enact legislation in justice and home affairs and maintain common policies on trade, agriculture, fisheries and regional development. For travel within the Schengen Area, passport controls have been abolished. A monetary union was established in 1999 and came into full force in 2002 and is composed of 19 EU member states which use the euro currency.

1995 enlargement of the European Union

The 1995 enlargement of the European Union saw Austria, Finland, and Sweden accede to the European Union (EU). This was the EU's fourth enlargement and came into effect on 1 January of that year. All these states were previous members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and had traditionally been less interested in joining the EU than other European countries. Norway had negotiated to join alongside the other three but following the signing of the treaty, membership was turned down by the Norwegian electorate in the 1994 national referendum. Switzerland also applied for membership on 26 May 1992, but withdrew it after a negative referendum result on 6 December 1992.

Results

Austrian European Union membership referendum, 1994
Choice Votes %
Yes check.svg Yes3,145,98166.6
No 1,578,850 33.4
Valid votes 4,724,831 99.1
Invalid or blank votes 43,570 0.9
Total votes4,724,831100.00
Registered voters and turnout 5,790,578 82.3
Source: Nohlen & Stöver
Austrian European Union membership referendum, 1994 results by state [3]
StateRegistered votersValid (votes)Yes (votes)No (votes)Yes (%)No (%)
Burgenland 213.090198.279148.041 50.238 74,7 25,3
Styria 907.991728.037501.481 226.556 68,9 31,1
Kärnten 420.630340.867232.457 108.410 68,2 31,8
Lower Austria 1.115.663999.471678.988 320.483 67,9 32,1
Vorarlberg 221.863177.506118.206 59.300 66,6 33,4
Wien 1.133.693820.675542.905 277.770 66,2 33,8
Upper Austria 974.865824.512539.965 284.547 65,5 34,5
Salzburg 347.387284.283184.948 99.335 65,1 34,9
Tirol 455.396351.201198.990 152.211 56,7 43,3
Total5.790.5784.724.831 3.145.981 1.578.850 66,6 33,4

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References

Results at the district level. EU-Referendum in Osterreich 1994.svg
Results at the district level.
Official ballot paper for the Austrian European Union membership referendum, 1994. Stimmzettel EU-Beitritt 1994.png
Official ballot paper for the Austrian European Union membership referendum, 1994.
  1. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. p. 196.
  2. Nohlen & Stöver, p207
  3. "BM.I - Wahlen - Volksbastimmungen". www.bmi.gv.at. Retrieved 2017-05-29.