Constitution (2004)

REFERENDUMS HELD ON EUROPEAN MATTERS: 1

2003: EU - Accession (Yes 67 % - No 32 % - Turnout 73 %)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS - Constitution of Latvia

Binding referendum provided for several cases and especially if the conditions of Latvias membership in the EU change significantly. Otherwise referendum on international treaties expressly excluded. Consultative referendum can anyhow be held if ordered by ad-hoc-law.

ARTICLES ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, REFERENDUM AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Regulation about a special transfer of sovereignty to EU:
none

Approval of transfer of sovereignty without effect of constitutional amendment:
Majority of votes from parliament, Art. 68, 24 ConstLatvia.

Approval of transfer of sovereignty with effect of constitutional amendment:
Not expressly regulated, but constitutional amendment required.

Approval of constitutional amendment:
Majority of 2/3 of the votes by presence of at least 2/3 of the members initiated by the parliament, Art. 76 ConstLatvia. Amendment can also be initiated by 1/10 of the electorates. If the parliament refuses this amendment a referendum has to be called, Art. 78 ConstLatvia. Amendment has to be approved by the majority of all electors, Art. 79 ConstLatvia. For amendment of fundamental principles of the constitution approval by a referendum required, Art. 77 ConstLatvia.

Other constitutional regulations about referendums:
Referendum on laws can be called on proposal of 1/10 of the electorate, Art. 72, 74, 75 ConstLatvia. Dissolution of parliament by the president has to be approved by Referendum, Art. 48 ConstLatvia. Referendum on agreements with other nations is expressly excluded, Art. 73 ConstLatvia. Substantial changes in the terms regarding the membership of Latvia in the European Union shall be decided by a national referendum if such referendum is requested by at least one-half of the members of the Saeima. But substantial changes in the terms regarding the membership in the European Union shall be decided by a national referendum if requested by half of the members of parliament, Art. 68 IV ConstLatvia.

RATING AND DEBATE

Decided

Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga said on 1 October 2003 that she saw no need to organise a referendum on the EU Constitution as it would not fundamentally change the content of the Accession Treaty - which outlined Lativian membership conditions. In December (07.12.04) Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks announced plans to speed up parliamentary ratification of the Constitution and it would probably pass by mid-January. "During January we will have every chance to gain approval," he told Reuters. Only the recently formed Euroskeptics Party argued in favour of holding a referendum.
Just a day after voters in the Netherlands rejected the constitutional treaty, 71 deputies in the 100-seat Latvian parliament ratified the EU Constitution. "We are free of fear. The Constitution will give us more opportunities. With our 'yes' vote, we want to say to the rest of the European Union, 'You can learn from us'," the Latvian foreign minister said.

Eurobarometer (2006), The Future of Europe - Results for Latvia, Special Eurobarometer 251, Fieldwork: 23/02 – 15/03 2006. (PDF)

Eurobarometer report, (17.02.04): 76% rather agree, 9% rather disagree.*

*Are you rather agree or rather disagree with the statement: The European Union must adopt a Constitution.

Eurobarometer report, (July 2005): 56% favourable, 13% opposed*

*Based on the question, are you for or against a constitution for the European Union?

Latest News

02.06.2005 After French, Dutch rejections, new EU member Latvia ratifies constitution. EUbusiness.com

22.04.2005 Fear of new EU members could sink constitution: Latvia foreign minister. EUbusiness.com

08.05.2003 Latvia changes its constitution to enter the EU. EUobserver.com

PROCEDURE

Parliamentary Ratification.

STATE OF THE PROCEDURE

On 02.06.2005 the Latvia parliament approved the treaty (71 Yes, 5 No, 6 abstentions)

DATE OF RATIFICATION

02.06.2005

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS AND MATERIAL

Deloy, C (2005), La Lettonie devient le dixieme etat membre a ratifier la Constitution Europeenne, Analyse, Robert Schuman Foundation, June 2005. (French) (PDF)