Hungarians set to vote yes to EU membership

UP to 60% of Hungarians are expected to vote to join the EU in today’s referendum. If it is carried as expected, Hungary will be the third of the 10 candidates to approve membership

Since Hungary took the first steps towards membership over 10 years ago, support has been high, wavering only slightly from time to time but not falling below the vital 50%.

The latest poll released by Gallup suggests over 70% of voters will turn out and about 57% will vote yes. Small businesses and farmers make up the main opposition.

They fear the competition of the open market of 25 member states due to come into existence in April 2004.

The centre-right government has spent the equivalent of 8 million in a wide-ranging media campaign Opposition groups have claimed the government has tried to buy the referendum.

Some of those urging Hungarians to vote No argue that since the economy is growing at 3.7% this year more than double the rate of the EU it should retain its independence.

However, the government's information campaign appears to have persuaded voters otherwise, with more than 40% of people believing EU membership will be an advantage to them personally.

Hungary has received more than €1.5 billion from the EU since 1990, initially to help their transition to a market economy and from 1996 to prepare for EU membership.

The country will receive another €101.7m this year for regional development, equal opportunity programmes, legal harmonisation and institution building.

It will receive €19m more under the EU's cross-border co-operation programme while the Hungarian government will provide €66.4m in co-finance Hungary, which has a population of 10.5 million, hopes to qualify to adopt the euro in the next four to five years.