ABSTRACT
This chapter starts from a discussion of the literature on direct democracy and on referendums on European integration. It then turns to the 2003 referendums on EU membership in CEE. The chapter also reviews the evolution of public opinion on the EU in the 'new' member states, setting it against political parties' positions on the issue. It then discusses calls for EU-related referendums in the new member states, even though the referendums never actually took place. Referendums may provide an important alternative channel for voters to express their opinion about substantive EU issues and for parties to articulate clear positions. A short conclusion finds that, for much of the post-accession period, high levels of elite consensus or circumstances beyond the CEEs' own political dynamics have acted against recourse to direct democracy instruments in the most recent members of the Union, but, if the Hungarian referendum can be taken as an indication, this might be set to change.
