1972 Norwegian European Communities membership referendum

1972 Norwegian–European Communities membership referendum

25 September 1972 (1972-09-25)

Should Norway join the European Community?
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 971,687 46.49%
No 1,118,281 53.51%
Valid votes 2,089,968 99.70%
Invalid or blank votes 6,388 0.30%
Total votes 2,096,356 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 2,680,907 78.2%

Results by county.
  No-votes
  Yes-votes

A referendum on joining the European Community was held in Norway on 25 September 1972. After a long period of heated debate, the "no" side won with 53.5% of the vote. Prime Minister Trygve Bratteli, who had championed a "yes" vote, resigned as a result. This was Norway's second attempt at becoming a member, after having been vetoed by France in January 1963 and again temporarily in 1967, but the first attempt with a referendum on a set of fully negotiated accession terms.