Lithuanians Vote Overwhelmingly to Join the European Union

Fireworks exploded over the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on Sunday night as it became clear that the small Baltic country had voted overwhelmingly in favor to become part of the European Union. President Rolandas Paksas emerged from the presidential palace as the sky lit up, addressing the cheering crowd with the welcome: "Hello Europeans!"

The celebrations were tinged with obvious relief from the staunchly pro-EU Lithuanian government as earlier fears that the 50 percent voter turnout level required for the referendum were dispelled. On Saturday, the first day of voting, only 30 percent of voters had cast their ballots but that number almost doubled by Sunday afternoon.

Officials said that more than 64 percent of the nation's 2.7 million registered voters eventually cast their ballots. Any failure to approve the referendum would have been a major embarrassment for Lithuania, where virtually all major parties back EU accession.

With 97 percent of the country's districts accounted for, election officials said positive votes totalled 91 percent of those cast with only 9 percent against EU membership. The resounding "yes" vote means that Lithuania becomes the fourth of the ten accession countries now ready to join the EU club in May 2004 and the first ex-Soviet republic to approve membership in the expanding bloc.

Emotional celebrations

Sunday was an emotional day for the Baltic state. As it became clear that European membership would become a reality, officials and members of the public alike, some with tears in their eyes, joined in with the national anthem as double-sided flags -- Lithuanian and EU -- were waved in the streets of Vilnius and celebrating masses congregated outside the Presidential Palace.

"This positive vote is what we have worked so long for," said Petras Austrevicius, Lithuania's Minister for Europe." It means a more secure life and a better future for our children."

Lithuania has been working towards European membership ever since it regained its independence amid the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The country's leaders have always maintained that accession would return the country to its rightful place in Europe and provide the historically vulnerable country with a sense of security.

“We should all be waving EU flags today. This day is as important as the day Lithuania declared independence," said the parliament's deputy speaker Vytenis Andriukaitis.

A secure life and better future

The vote was welcomed in Brussels. EU spokesman Christophe Forax told reporters that the European Union was "happy with the turnout because it means the referendum will be validated in this very important vote for the European Union." The President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, also telephoned to offer congratulations.

Lithuania is the first of the three former Soviet Baltic states to hold an EU referendum, with Latvia and Estonia following in September. Observers from Latvia and Estonia in Vilnius for the referendum said that the result in Lithuania would help build momentum for their own votes.

Ramona Umblija, a member of the Latvian organizer of its vote later this year, told the BBC, "This is fantastic for Latvia." Umblija added that the friendly rivalry between the three Baltic countries would be a factor in the referendums in Latvia and Estonia. " Latvians are now going to say, 'Ah, Lithuania passed theirs. We must pass ours."'

In all, 10 countries are to join the EU in 2004. Malta, Slovenia and Hungary all voted "yes" earlier this year, Slovakia will vote at the end of this week while Poland will vote June. The other EU candidates include Cyprus and the Czech Republic.