Estonia gives strong 'Yes' to EU
( 2003-09-15 15:32) (Agencies)
Estonians have voted overwhelmingly to join the European Union in a referendum, crowning this small Baltic nation's break with its Soviet past.
With all votes counted, the "Yes" camp had 66.9 percent of the vote, with the "No" camp trailing at 33.1 percent, the election commission said. Total turnout was 63 percent.
"Spring has arrived in Estonia -- we're back in Europe," Prime Minister Juhan Parts told a news conference.
The vote was seen by many as crowning more than a decade of painful reforms to return to mainstream Europe, despite some
fears that Estonia's dynamic and liberal economy might get bogged down in EU red tape.
Supporters and the right-wing ruling coalition argue that membership will not only boost the economy, but also seal Estonia's place in the European mainstream and safeguard its independence regained in 1991.
Estonia is the last but one to hold an EU referendum of eight east European countries invited to join the European Union next May in a historic enlargement to 25 members from 15.
Neighbouring Latvia, also an ex-Soviet republic, votes next week. Analysts say an Estonian "Yes" should boost the pro-EU campaign in Latvia in what looks like a close race.
Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic and Malta have already held ballots to join the EU. Cyprus will also join but is not holding a referendum.
Along with other East European states, Estonia proclaimed independence at the end of World War One when the region's three empires -- Russia, Germany and Austria -- crumbled.
World War Two put Estonia and Baltic neighbours Latvia and Lithuania at the mercy of the victorious Soviet Union.
The trio ended up as Soviet republics and memories of Moscow's often cruel rule have boosted the EU campaign.
After starting from scratch in 1991, Estonia is now seen as a showpiece of successful free-market reforms.
GDP per capita almost doubled in the last three years to around $6,000. This is still just one fifth of the EU average, but the economy is one of the fastest growing in Europe and analysts say Estonia will likely catch up in just 15-20 years.
Although ethnicity is no longer a sensitive issue, almost half of the large Russian minority of about a quarter of the population have yet to seek citizenship and are prevented from voting. They will need visas to work and travel inside the EU.
|
