Brussels, 11/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - After Malta (53% vote in favour of accession) and Slovenia (90%), the Hungarians will be voting on 12 April on the European future of Hungary in a referendum on joining the EU. Recent polls suggest a massive "Yes" vote is likely. A CEORG poll published this week suggests that nearly 70% of Hungarians who are "certain or almost certain" to turn out to vote, will vote in favour of Hungary joining the EU.
Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen said he was confident that the results of the Hungarian referendum (which will be binding) would be "very, very positive" and would have a favourable impact on the other referendums still to be organised in the candidate countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Hungary will be followed by Lithuania (10/11 May), Slovakia (16/17 May), Poland (8 June), the Czech Republic (15/16 June), Estonia (14 September) and finally Latvia (20 September).