# CE2004088EN.01037801.xml

| 8.4.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 88/378 |
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8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 88/378

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(2004/C 88 E/0384)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1948/03

by Roger Helmer (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(13 June 2003)

Subject:   Lithuanian referendum

Subject:

Would the Commission please comment on the fact that seriously underhand tactics appear to have been used in Lithuania's referendum campaign for accession to the EU, namely that:

| — | electoral law was broken with consistent campaigning for a ‘Yes’ vote in the 30 hours preceding the referendum, which is contrary to Lithuanian electoral law, |
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electoral law was broken with consistent campaigning for a ‘Yes’ vote in the 30 hours preceding the referendum, which is contrary to Lithuanian electoral law,

| — | senior government officials, celebrities and businessmen were used to put out the key ‘Yes’ message on State radio and television during the 30 hour purdah period before the referendum and throughout the two days of voting; that they used key political messages to persuade the voters not just to turn out but also to vote Yes', |
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senior government officials, celebrities and businessmen were used to put out the key ‘Yes’ message on State radio and television during the 30 hour purdah period before the referendum and throughout the two days of voting; that they used key political messages to persuade the voters not just to turn out but also to vote Yes',

| — | the key Yes' message, to ‘vote for tomorrow's youth’, cannot be interpreted as merely awareness-raising, |
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the key Yes' message, to ‘vote for tomorrow's youth’, cannot be interpreted as merely awareness-raising,

| — | goods – drinks, confectionery and detergent – were offered by the largest supermarket chain to Lithuanians who could prove that they had voted in the referendum, which promoted a surge of voters who took the overall vote above the necessary 50 % participation level, |
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goods – drinks, confectionery and detergent – were offered by the largest supermarket chain to Lithuanians who could prove that they had voted in the referendum, which promoted a surge of voters who took the overall vote above the necessary 50 % participation level,

| — | this surge of over 300 000 voters after the announcement of free goods for votes may be directly attributed to this ‘special offer’, which was announced hourly on State radio, since the enormous increase in voting after the announcement was not consistent with the voting pattern for the first day of voting, |
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this surge of over 300 000 voters after the announcement of free goods for votes may be directly attributed to this ‘special offer’, which was announced hourly on State radio, since the enormous increase in voting after the announcement was not consistent with the voting pattern for the first day of voting,

| — | senior government officials met after the first day of voting and decided to use ‘further agitation’ to promote a ‘Yes’ vote, which is specifically banned under Lithuanian electoral law, |
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senior government officials met after the first day of voting and decided to use ‘further agitation’ to promote a ‘Yes’ vote, which is specifically banned under Lithuanian electoral law,

| — | the extraordinary efforts of senior officials and businessmen, especially the free goods for votes offered in the supermarket chain, materially affected the outcome of the referendum? |
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the extraordinary efforts of senior officials and businessmen, especially the free goods for votes offered in the supermarket chain, materially affected the outcome of the referendum?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(18 July 2003)

(18 July 2003)

The questions raised by the Honourable Member falls exclusively within the competence of Lithuania as a democratic and sovereign country. It is also fully within the responsibility of Lithuania to organise the Accession Referendum Information Campaign, including the choice of the slogans.

The referendum on Lithuania's accession to the Union was held on 10 and 11 May 2003. There was a 63,3 % turnout and 91,07 % voted in favour of accession.

The organisation of the Referendum has been based on the Lithuanian Referendum Law. According to this law any complaints about possible violations of the law, which prohibits campaigning during 30 hours before the referendum and on the days of the referendum are to be handled by the Central Electoral Committee of Lithuania. Following the referendum on Lithuania's accession to the Union, several Lithuanian citizens submitted complaints, which have been dealt with by the Central Electoral Committee of Lithuania. As a result the referendum has been considered as being valid.

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