Sweden

Abstract

The Swedish Constitution was changed in the 1990s (Chapters 9 and 10) in order to facilitate the Swedish membership of the EU and subsequently, its participation in the eurozone. However, after an ill-fated and legally doubtful referendum in September 2003, where a clear majority (56 per cent) voted no to accession to the eurozone, the issue of EMU membership and its legal consequences has hardly been discussed at all. This is largely due to the widespread belief that Sweden benefited from staying outside the eurozone during the subsequent financial crisis, but it is surprising. It may not be explained by any sort of constitutional tradition. The government’s response to recent reform proposals from the EU Commission has been technical rather than political.