European Union: Treaties

Foreign and Commonwealth Office written question – answered at on 6 April 2016.

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Photo of Lord Pearson of Rannoch Lord Pearson of Rannoch UKIP

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which EU countries are required by their constitutions to hold a referendum before their governments can agree changes to the EU treaties; and which countries have done so in the past.

Photo of Baroness Anelay of St Johns Baroness Anelay of St Johns Minister of State

No EU country has an absolute constitutional requirement to hold a referendum before their government can agree to any amendment to the EU Treaties. Indeed, no EU Member State held a referendum on the most recent change to the EU Treaties which came into effect in 2013.

The following countries have a constitutional requirement to hold a referendum in certain circumstances (e.g. if proposed changes require a revision of a Member State’s constitution or constitute a transfer of competence/sovereignty to the EU):

• Austria

• Croatia

• Denmark

• Ireland

• Lithuania

• Romania

• Slovakia

The following countries have previously held a referendum on changes to the EU Treaties:

• Denmark

• Ireland

• France

• Italy

• Luxembourg

• Netherlands

• Spain

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