- Title: SWEDEN - SWEDES VOTE IN REFERENDUM ON WHETHER TO JOIN EUROPEAN UNION
- Date: 12th November 1994
- Summary: STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (NOVEMBER 12 AND 13, 1994) (REUTERS TELEVISION - AVAILABLE ALL) (NOVEMBER 12, 1994) (NIGHT SHOTS) 1. HAS,GV CROWDS IN STOCKHOLM ,HOLDING TORCHES (2 SHOTS) 0.08 2. MCU MAN ADDRESSING CROWD FAVOURING "YES" VOTE 0.13 3. HAS,GV "NO" CROWD LISTENING 0.19 4. SV "YES" CROWD /SPARKLERS 0.28 ("YES" SUPPORTERS WITH SPARKLERS, "NO" SUPPORTERS WITH FLAMES) 5. GV/SV "NEJ TILL EU" (NO TO EUROPEAN UNION (EU)) CROWD GATHERED/MARCHING PAST "YES" SUPPORTERS (3 SHOTS) 1.08 (13 NOVEMBER, 1994) 6. GV/LVSTOCKHOLM CITY CENTRE (2 SHOTS) 1.18 7. SV MAN RAISING SWEDISH FLAG IN SUBURB OF TYRESO (2 SHOTS) 1.30 8. SV SWEDISH FLAG FLYING IN TYRESO 1.32 9. SLV VOTERS ARRIVE AT POLLING STATION IN TYRESO 1.35 10. INT.SLV/PAN/VARIOUS PRIME MINISTER INGVAR CARLSSON ARRIVING (IN DARK OVERCOAT) COLLECTING CARD AND VOTING IN TYRESO, MEDIA NEARBY (5 SHOTS) 2.17 11. MCU EXT. POLLING STATION, CARLSSON SAYS SURROUNDED BY MEDIA, "I HOPE FOR YES' " (ENGLISH) 2.29 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 27th November 1994 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: STOCKHOM, SWEDEN
- City:
- Country: Sweden
- Reuters ID: LVA5NASS2I4J1HV1SZP86C1DKT44
- Story Text: Swedes voted on Sunday (November 13) in a referendum on European Union (EU) membership, with opinion polls showing that efforts by pro-Europeans may have been enough to nudge hesitant Swedes into the EU from next year.
At Sergel Square in central Stockholm crowds gathered on Saturday to hear the last arguments for and against joining the Union before going to the polls. Later on Saturday, thousands of opponents of Sweden's joining the EU marched through central Stockholm in a torchlight procession. The last week of the campaign had focused on gaining the decisive votes of around one million Swedes who remained undecided on the issue.
The final poll of a divisive campaign published on Sunday confirmed the trend of the previous days, which has shown supporters of EU membership increase their lead on opponents.
The Demoskop institute poll, published in the Svenska Dagbladet daily, showed support for EU membership at 48 percent, a two percent increase over the last similar poll, with those planning to vote "no" polling 41 per cent.
About 6.5 million voters were eligible to vote in the referendum, only the fourth in Sweden's history, and opinion polls predicted a record 91 per cent turnout.
More than 6,000 polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) and were due to close at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT). First exit polls and projections were expected just minutes later.
Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson, nursing a cold and hoarse after a desperate two-week campaign, said after casting his ballot in the Stockholm suburb of Tyreso that he was not confident the "yes" votes would prevail.
A high turnout was predicted despite freezing temperatures throughout Sweden, especially in the Arctic north where anti-European sentiment runs highest.
Farmers and Lapps in the far north were forecast to vote overwhelmingly "No" to the question: "Do you believe Sweden should join the European Union in accordance with the agreement between Sweden and the EU member states?".
Anti-European campaigners, an eclectic grouping of farmers, intellectuals and nationalists, warned Swedes they would lose their high standard of living and the nation's neutral status if they agreed to Europe's aims of monetary and military union.
Supporters, put on the defensive by the popular reception of the anti-European campaigners' ideas, stressed that Sweden would be isolated outside the EU if it voted "No".
If the "yes" vote wins, Sweden will become the 15th member of the EU from January 1 after new members Finland and Austria.
Neighbouring Norway are scheduled to vote on November 28.
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