Slovakia’s 2003 referendum on joining the European Union took place after the country had signed its accession treaty, and its result was not legally required to complete membership. Prime Minister Robert Fico has nevertheless claimed the vote was rigged and would otherwise have failed.
Speaking at a panel event with a former Czech counterpart, Fico said the referendum was “so close that some adjustments were made to ensure it turned out as it was supposed to.” He also claimed: “We held a referendum which, had it not been rigged, would not have succeeded.”
Slovakia signed the EU Treaty of Accession in April 2003 alongside nine other states. The referendum followed in May. Voters were asked: “Do you agree that the Slovak Republic should become a Member State of the EU?”
The vote was optional, and its outcome could not cancel the accession process, which had already been concluded. Had a referendum been a prerequisite for membership, Slovakia could not have held one before accession became legally binding under international law.
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