The people of the Republic of Ireland voted in yesterday's referendum in favor of the expansion of the European Union. According to Irish news sources, 63% of the people approved the Nice Treaty in the referendum held on Saturday. Under this treaty, the European Union will accept ten new European countries as members by 2004. 37% of the people opposed the approval of the Nice Treaty. The Irish vote paved the way for the expansion of the Union. Irish leaders praised the Irish voters, and German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder stated that the people of Ireland voted with a sense of responsibility. The ten candidate countries for membership also expressed their gratitude to the Irish voters.
Irish People Voted for the Expansion of the European Union in Yesterday's Referendum - 2002-10-20
In a recent referendum, 63% of Irish voters approved the Nice Treaty, allowing the European Union to expand by adding ten new member countries by 2004. This decision was praised by both Irish leaders and international figures, highlighting the importance of Ireland's role in EU expansion.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
In a recent referendum, 63% of Irish voters approved the Nice Treaty, allowing the European Union to expand by adding ten new member countries by 2004. This decision was celebrated by both Irish leaders and international figures.
- 63% of voters approved the Nice Treaty.
- The treaty facilitates the accession of ten new countries to the EU by 2004.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Nice Treaty aimed to reform EU institutions to accommodate new members, reflecting the EU's growth post-Cold War. This expansion was seen as a way to stabilize Eastern Europe.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%