1994 Finnish European Union membership referendum
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An advisory referendum on joining the European Union was held in Finland on 16 October 1994.[1] 56.9% of voters approved of the proposal, with a voter turnout of 70.8%.[2] Due to having its own customs jurisdiction, a separate referendum was held in Åland a month later, and was also approved.[3]
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16 October 1994
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Should Finland become a member of the European Union in accordance with the negotiated agreement (accession agreement)? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results by region | ||||||||||||||||||||||
As of 2026, this was the most recent referendum in Finland.
Party policies
| Position | Political parties | |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Centre Party | |
| Social Democratic Party | ||
| National Coalition Party | ||
| Swedish People's Party of Finland | ||
| Liberal People's Party | ||
| No | Finnish Rural Party | |
| Finnish Christian League | ||
| Neutral | Left Alliance | |
| Green League | ||
Results
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | 1,620,726 | 56.89 | |
| No | 1,228,261 | 43.11 | |
| Total | 2,848,987 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 2,848,987 | 99.55 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 12,854 | 0.45 | |
| Total votes | 2,861,841 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 4,042,607 | 70.79 | |
| Source: European Election Database | |||
By region
| Region | For | Against | Invalid/ blank |
Total | Registered/ voters |
Turnout | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||||
| Åland[a] | 5,885 | 51.95 | 5,444 | 48.05 | 154 | 11,483 | 18,752 | 61.24 |
| Central Finland | 66,813 | 47.56 | 73,663 | 52.44 | 586 | 141,062 | 195,490 | 72.16 |
| Central Ostrobothnia | 17,036 | 42.75 | 22,815 | 57.25 | 174 | 40,025 | 52,361 | 76.44 |
| Eastern Uusimaa | 30,760 | 63.46 | 17,708 | 36.54 | 240 | 48,708 | 64,545 | 75.46 |
| Kainuu | 18,016 | 35.55 | 32,663 | 64.45 | 201 | 50,880 | 71,862 | 70.80 |
| Kymenlaakso | 72,173 | 66.23 | 36,807 | 33.77 | 459 | 109,439 | 150,492 | 72.72 |
| Lapland | 51,117 | 47.42 | 56,675 | 52.28 | 413 | 108,205 | 149,718 | 72.27 |
| North Karelia | 42,919 | 47.99 | 46,516 | 52.01 | 374 | 89,809 | 134,302 | 66.87 |
| Northern Ostrobothnia | 82,658 | 46.02 | 96,961 | 53.98 | 832 | 180,451 | 249,932 | 72.20 |
| North Savo | 65,127 | 48.21 | 69,960 | 51.79 | 501 | 135,588 | 197,171 | 68.77 |
| Ostrobothnia | 50,318 | 50.76 | 48,817 | 49.24 | 568 | 99,703 | 129,832 | 76.79 |
| Päijät-Häme | 68,596 | 61.94 | 42,147 | 38.06 | 478 | 111,221 | 152,136 | 73.11 |
| Pirkanmaa | 134,719 | 54.77 | 111,248 | 45.23 | 1,213 | 247,180 | 330,297 | 74.84 |
| Satakunta | 70,541 | 50.48 | 69,192 | 49.52 | 667 | 140,400 | 189,002 | 74.28 |
| South Karelia | 49,722 | 63.62 | 28,432 | 36.38 | 330 | 78,484 | 109,178 | 71.89 |
| Southern Ostrobothnia | 43,945 | 38.94 | 68,910 | 61.06 | 417 | 113,272 | 150,585 | 75.22 |
| South Savo | 49,268 | 54.48 | 41,167 | 45.52 | 381 | 90,816 | 133,861 | 67.84 |
| Southwest Finland | 140,209 | 56.62 | 107,422 | 43.38 | 1,170 | 248,801 | 330,644 | 75.25 |
| Kanta-Häme | 53,125 | 56.89 | 40,258 | 43.11 | 514 | 93,897 | 126,245 | 74.38 |
| Uusimaa | 493,811 | 70.83 | 203,333 | 29.17 | 3,117 | 700,261 | 899,718 | 77.83 |
| Overseas | 13,968 | 63.23 | 8,123 | 36.77 | 65 | 22,156 | 206,484 | 10.73 |
| Total | 1,620,726 | 56.89 | 1,228,261 | 43.11 | 12,854 | 2,861,841 | 4,042,607 | 70.79 |
| Source: European Election Database | ||||||||
a A separate referendum was also held in the Åland Islands as it was a separate customs jurisdiction.