[autom.vertaling] Hongaren kunnen over de EU in Maart stemmen (en)
The plan for co-ordinated EU referenda among Visegrad group countries - Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, becomes more and more likely as the Hungarian government opts for 15 March as the date for a national poll. However, the opposition Fidesz party finds the date unacceptable.
The government expects that the legal conditions for the March 15 2003 referendum on Hungary's European Union accession will be established in amendments to the Constitution, government spokesman said on Saturday, according to reports by MTI.
Opposition not satisfied
The right-wing opposition Fidesz party already criticised the government's idea. The party's chairman Janos Ader said 15 March 2003 was unacceptable for Fidesz because the accession treaty will not be completed by that date, and because current laws on referenda ban votes on red-letter national holidays such as March 15, when Hungary commemorates the 1848/49 revolution and war for independence.
According to the idea brought up at the meeting of Visegrad Group countries in August, national polls on EU membership could be co-ordinated, starting from the country with a highest support to the EU. Surveys show the greatest enthusiasm towards the accession in Hungary. In Poland, a referendum on EU entry is expected in May next year.