Constitution (2004)

REFERENDUMS HELD ON EUROPEAN MATTERS: 2

1994: EU - Accession (Yes 57 % - No 43% - Turnout 70 %)
1994: EU - Accession of Åland Island (Yes 74 % - No 26% - Turnout 49 %)

CONSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS - Constitution of Finland

Binding referendum requires implementation by constitutional amendment. Consultative referendum expressly provided.

ARTICLES ABOUT INTERNATIONAL TREATIES, REFERENDUM AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Approval of transfer of sovereignty with effect of constitutional amendment:
Majority of votes from parliament, §§ 93, 94, 95 ConstFinland.

Approval of transfer of sovereignty with effect of constitutional amendment:
Majority of 2/3 of votes from parliament, § 94 II ConstFinland. Limit for transferance is an endangerment of the fundamental democratical rights of the constitution, § 94 III ConstFinland.

Approval of constitutional amendment:
Majority of 2/3 of votes from parliament after proposed constitutional amendment was approved by majority of votes from parliament and its new-election. Only if parliament declares with a majority of 5/6 of the votes a constitutional amendment as urgent it can be realised circumventing with majority of 2/3 of the votes, § 73 ConstFinland.

Other constitutional regulations about Referendums:
Consultative referendum can be called, § 53 ConstFinland.

RATING AND DEBATE

• At the beginning of March 2008, Finnish state broadcaster YLE reported that the Aaland government may reject the EU treaty - and undermine the country's general ratification of the treaty, due to a row over the right to sell snuff, a smokeless tobacco.
• On 11.06.2008 alarge majority of Finnish deputies – 151 out of 200 voted in favour of the document, while 27 opposed it and 21 were absent.

DECLARATIONS BY THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

PROCEDURE

Parliamentary vote

STATE OF THE PROCEDURE

The parliamentary ratification was held on the 11.06.2008 in the 200-member chamber. (150 votes in favour; 27 against and 21 abstention)

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS AND MATERIAL