Lithuania to stage two-day EU referendum in May

Lithuania will hold a two-day referendum on European Union entry in May, lawmakers of the Baltic ex-Soviet republic decided yesterday.

The parliament voted strongly in favour of allowing the referendum to be held over two days, May 10-11, to allow as many people to vote as possible.

Lithuania eased its rules on high voter turnout requirements earlier this week to reduce the risk of the EU ballot failing, despite huge support to join the wealthy bloc in 2004.

Now a simple majority with at least 50 per cent voter turnout will be the only requirements for a binding referendum.

A fresh February poll released yesterday showed 68 per cent of Lithuanians supported EU entry and 11.2 per cent opposed, but surveys suggest that voter turnout could be close to the 50 per cent threshold as many see EU entry as a done deal.