The swedish parliament and EU affairs: From reluctant player to Europeanized actor

Abstract

Sweden became a member of the European Union (EU) in 1995. In a referendum in November 1994, 52.3 per cent voted in favour of accession on a turnout of 83.3 per cent. In a 2003 referendum on whether to introduce the euro to Sweden, however, 55.9 per cent voted against, with a turnout of 82.6 per cent. This sceptical attitude to the euro remains. Opinion polls in 2011 showed that only 11-12 per cent of Swedes were in favour of joining the euro (Holmberg, 2012, pp. 485, 494, fn. 7).