Country Information

This section provides information about the EU countries. Currently eleven states have decided to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution. The question is still undecided in eight member states, while in five countries it seems to be unlikely, that a referendum will be held. The Parliament of Lithuania has already ratified the constitution.
 

The Eighties

The only country which has left the European Community so far: Greenland.


Four referendums


The autonomous Danish possession Greenland left the EC
in 1982.

The constitutions of Ireland (1987) and Denmark (1986) required that referendums be held to ratify the Single European Act, which paved the way for the European Union.

An ad hoc referendum held in Italy (1989)conferred a mandate on the European Parliament to create a European Constitution.


   


Conclusions

1. Referendums on EU questions are the modern and appropriate tool to decide about the future of the EU.

2. A no-vote in a referendum never lead to a withdrawal of the concerned state (except in Greenland that voted on that very question).
      
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