Ruqayyah Snyder
Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the European Union (EU) on 1 January 1995. This was the EU's fourth enlargement and was also known as the EFTA Enlargement Round. All three countries had previously been members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and had a long-standing history of neutrality, which had previously made EU membership incompatible. However, following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the political landscape shifted, and the three countries began to explore stronger ties with the EU. Sweden's decision to apply for membership in October 1990 also influenced Finland's path towards the EU. Referendums held in Sweden and Austria in 1994 resulted in narrow majorities in favour of joining the EU. Since joining, all three countries have actively participated in EU institutions and contributed to the EU's development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date joined the EU | 1 January 1995 |
| EU membership order | Austria, Finland and Sweden were the 13th, 14th and 15th members respectively |
| Referendum results | Austria: 66.6% Yes with 82.3% turnout; Finland: 56.9% Yes with 74% turnout; Sweden: 52.2% Yes with 82.4% turnout |
| Number of MEPs | Sweden: 22; Austria: 21; Finland: 16 |
| Number of votes in the Council of Ministers | Austria and Sweden: 4 each; Finland: 3 |
| Previous trade association | European Free Trade Association (EFTA) |
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What You'll Learn
Sweden's 1995 EU membership
Sweden, along with Austria and Finland, joined the European Union on 1 January 1995. This was the fourth enlargement of the EU and was also known as the EFTA Enlargement round. All three countries were previously members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and had been less interested in joining the EU than other European countries.
Sweden's path to EU membership began in October 1990 when the Swedish government announced its view that the country should seek membership of the EU. In July 1991, the then Prime Minister, Ingvar Carlsson, submitted Sweden's application. In February 1993, detailed negotiations commenced in Brussels. The negotiations took just over a year to complete, and a referendum held on 13 November 1994 settled the question of Sweden's EU membership. The referendum was advisory, but Sweden's political parties had agreed to respect the result in advance. The result was 52.2%-52.3% in favour of joining, with an 82.4%-83% turnout. The decision was formally taken by the Riksdag on 15 December 1994.
Sweden's membership of the EU in 1995 was the culmination of an extended period of integration and cooperation with EU member states. The 1972 free trade agreement between Sweden and the EC and the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1992 were key milestones on Sweden's path to EU membership. Sweden's large manufacturers were instrumental in pushing government policy towards membership, as they found the EEA insufficient for their export-focused industries. The economic pressures overcame the long-standing opposition from the social democrat governments, which saw the EU as too neo-liberal and a danger to the Nordic model.
Sweden's membership of the EU brought about several changes. Sweden gained 22 MEPs, 4 votes in the Council of Ministers, and 12 representatives on the European Economic and Social Committee. Swedish became one of the EU's official languages, along with Finnish. Sweden also committed to adopting the euro once it fulfils the necessary conditions. As a member of the EU, Sweden benefits from being part of the Single Market and a shared approach to challenges such as migration, terrorism, and climate change. Sweden also has 12 representatives on the European Committee of the Regions, and money from the EU budget helps fund programmes and projects in the country.
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Austria's 1995 EU accession
Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the European Union (EU) on 1 January 1995. This was the EU's fourth enlargement and is also known as the EFTA Enlargement round. All three countries were previously members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and had traditionally been less interested in joining the EU than other European countries. Austria, Finland, and Sweden were neutral during the Cold War, and so membership of an organisation developing a common foreign and security policy would have been incompatible with that. However, once that obstacle was removed, the desire to pursue membership grew stronger.
Austria was the first of the three countries to approve the ratification on 12 June 1994, even before it had signed the Accession Treaty, by a large majority: 66.6% voted 'Yes' in an 82.3% turnout. Austria has thrived thanks to EU membership. As a global leader in organic farming and green technologies, Austria drives sustainable innovation across the Union. As a strong advocate for the reunification of Europe, it has supported and facilitated the integration of the new Member States from central and eastern Europe. Over the past 30 years, young Austrian citizens have gained more opportunities to study across the European Union. Since 1995, over 150,000 higher education students from Austria have participated in the Erasmus+ programme. Through Erasmus+, over 152,000 EU citizens have also enjoyed the opportunity to attend universities in Austria.
Austria has also worked with other EU Member States to mobilise emergency relief through the Civil Protection Mechanism since its establishment in 2001. During the refugee crisis in 2016, Austria supported Greece with the supply of essential sanitary and emergency shelter products. At the same time, Austria has received timely support from EU Member States during past emergencies, with Germany and Slovakia offering much-needed firefighting support following forest fires in Lower Austria in 2021.
In Upper Austria, a local company, LOC-Holz, is working with funding from the EU to produce clean and climate-neutral timber construction while becoming a significant employer in the rural region.
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$44.55 $48
Finland's 1995 EU entry
Finland, along with Austria and Sweden, joined the European Union (EU) on 1 January 1995. This was the fourth enlargement of the EU and was also known as the EFTA Enlargement round. Finland, Austria, and Sweden were the first new countries to join the EU after the end of the Cold War. All three countries had remained neutral during the Cold War and did not feel that membership was compatible with their neutrality. However, with the end of the Cold War, this obstacle was removed, and the desire to pursue membership grew stronger. Finland, Austria, and Sweden were also members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and had been significant trading partners through the European Free Trade Area. They left EFTA when they joined the EU.
Finland's accession to the EU was marked by distinct economic and social policies, as well as issues of neutrality during the Cold War, which had previously kept the Nordic country from developing closer relations with the European Community. Finland's economy was also transformed by the boom of high-tech companies. Finland has a parliamentary republic with a prime minister, who is the head of government, and a president, who is the head of state. Finland has 16 members in the European Parliament and 3 votes in the Council of Ministers.
Finland's entry into the EU created a Nordic bloc in the Council, with Finland and Sweden backing up Denmark on environmental and human rights issues. Finland has also been at the forefront of attempts to bring the Balkan states under EU influence. Finland has 9 representatives on the European Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives. Finland adopted the euro as its currency in 1999 and became a member of the Schengen area in 2001.
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Sweden's 1992 EEA agreement
Sweden, along with Finland and Austria, acceded to the European Union in 1995, but the journey towards EU membership began several years earlier with the signing of the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement in 1992.
The EEA Agreement, established in 1992, created a homogeneous European market, allowing for the free movement of goods, services, persons, and capital within the EU and the EEA member states. The agreement was signed between the EU and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, which at the time included Sweden, Finland, Austria, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Sweden's decision to sign the EEA Agreement was a significant step towards its eventual EU membership. By signing the agreement, Sweden committed to adopting a large part of EU legislation, particularly in relation to the single market. This included adopting EU regulations and standards in areas such as competition, trade, consumer protection, and the environment.
The EEA Agreement came into force on January 1, 1994, and during this time, Sweden, along with the other EFTA countries, participated in the EU's internal market without having a say in its decision-making processes. This was a key motivation for Sweden to pursue full EU membership, as it sought to have a greater say in shaping the policies that it was already implementing.
Sweden's accession to the EU in 1995 was the culmination of a process that began with the EEA Agreement and reflected the country's desire to play a more active role in European affairs, as well as to benefit from the economic and political advantages that EU membership offered. The EEA Agreement of 1992 thus served as an important stepping stone in Sweden's integration into the European Union.
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Austria's 1989 application
Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the European Union (EU) on 1 January 1995. This was the EU's fourth enlargement and was also known as the EFTA Enlargement round. All three countries were previous members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and had been less interested in joining the EU than other European countries.
Austria's application for membership came at a time when the country had already set its integration goal of full membership in the European Communities. This was in response to the establishment of the European Economic Area (EEA) in 1992, which provided for a close association between EFTA and the EEC. Austria recognised that the EEA was insufficient for its export-focused industries and desired full membership in the EU.
Austria's accession to the EU marked the completion of the country's long-standing integration efforts. As one of the founding members of EFTA, Austria had established its first closer economic ties with the EEC in 1973. However, these ties did not offer a path towards more comprehensive relations.
Austria's membership in the EU has had a significant impact on its foreign and European policy, allowing the country to actively participate in all EU institutions and shape the EU's development. Austrian representatives participate in decision-making processes and advocate for Austrian concerns within the EU's structures. Austria has also held the EU Presidency multiple times and played a leading role in initiatives to protect civilians in armed conflicts, strengthen human rights, and promote disarmament.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the European Union on 1 January 1995.
The 1995 enlargement of the EU added Swedish and Finnish as official languages. It also created a Nordic bloc in the Council, with Sweden and Finland backing Denmark on environmental and human rights issues.
Sweden's path to EU membership was relatively smooth due to the prior existence of the 1972 free trade agreement and the 1992 EEA Agreement. On 13 October 1994, Sweden voted in a referendum to join the EU, and the decision was formally taken by the Riksdag on 15 December 1994.
Finland became a member of the Council of Europe in 1989. The disintegration of the Soviet Union in the same year led to a rapid economic decline in Finland, and the country sought to find new markets in the West. Finland's path to EU membership was influenced by Sweden's decision to apply for membership in October 1990.
Sweden's economy has improved significantly since joining the EU. GDP per capita has doubled, and trade with other EU member states has increased. The number of citizens from EU member states living in Sweden has also risen.
