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September 19, 2003
Happy ending
With the last referendum to take place in the accession
countries, Latvians are now sure to join
by Robert Manchin
According to the very last polls
released this week, before Sunday's referendum, there
is now a secured majority of "yes" voters
in Latvia. It is the last country to vote on its European
Union accession - the previous eight countries that
organised a referendum have already confirmed their
wish to join Europe.
LATVIA: According to survey results,
among those citizens who intend to participate, 63%
are in favor of joining the EU, 29% are against and
8% have not yet made up their minds. When considering
all citizens, the proportions are similar: 56% support
EU accession, 33% oppose it and 11% are undecided. Latvian
Facts expects 81% turn out.
Another phone survey conduced
during the last weekend had similar results; InMind
found a support on EU accession of 57% among those who
intend to participate in the vote and 24% opposing the
move. Among the entire population, 53% would vote "yes,"
25% "no" and 22% are undecided. InMind projects
a Sunday participation rate of 91%.
The Latvian referendum will close
the series of nine EU candidate countries who have submitted
to the public approval for their country's EU accession.
From the accessing countries' point of view, the referendum
this Sunday will remove the last constitutional barrier
from the planned 2004 enlargement of the European Union.
full text in English
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June13-14,
2003
