Estonia gives strong "Yes" to EU

Estonians voted strongly in favour of joining the European Union in a referendum yesterday, preliminary results showed, crowning this small Baltic nation's break with its Soviet past.

A cautious pro-EU ruling coalition held back from openly declaring victory ahead of a full count, but government sources said they were confident the "Yes" side had won.

With more than half the votes counted, the "Yes" camp had 67 per cent of the vote, with the "No" camp trailing at 33 per cent. A full count was expected within three hours after polls closed at 8 p.m. (1700 GMT).

Total turnout was 63 per cent, the election commission said. Polls ahead of the non-binding poll showed seven out of 10 voters back EU entry, despite some fears that Estonia's dynamic and liberal economy might get bogged down in EU red tape.

"A 'Yes' in today's vote will finalise a process that started 15 years ago - our aspiration to join Europe in economic, political and cultural terms," Economy Minister Meelis Atonen told Reuters, referring to the freedom movement of the late 1980s.

Supporters and the right-wing ruling coalition argue that membership will not only boost the economy, but also seal Estonia's place in the European mainstream and safeguard its independence regained in 1991.

Estonia is the last but one to hold an EU referendum of eight East European countries invited to join the European Union next May in a historic enlargement to 25 members from 15.

Neighbouring Latvia, also an ex-Soviet republic, votes next week. Analysts say an Estonian "Yes" should boost the pro-EU campaign in Latvia in what looks like a close race.

Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic and Malta have already held ballots to join the EU. Cyprus will also join but is not holding a referendum.

Along with other East European states, Estonia proclaimed independence at the end of World War One when the region's three empires - Russia, Germany and Austria - crumbled.

World War Two put Estonia and Baltic neighbours Latvia and Lithuania at the mercy of the victorious Soviet Union.

The trio ended up as Soviet republics and memories of Moscow's often cruel rule have boosted the EU campaign.

After starting from scratch in 1991, Estonia is now seen as a showpiece of successful free-market reforms.

GDP per capita almost doubled in the last three years to around $6,000. This is still just one-fifth of the EU average, but the economy is one of the fastest growing in Europe and analysts say Estonia will likely catch up in just 15-20 years.

Although ethnicity is no longer a sensitive issue, almost half of the large Russian minority of about a quarter of the population have yet to seek citizenship and are prevented from voting. They will need visas to work and travel inside the EU.