The European Commission today welcomed Hungarians' "massive" vote in favour of joining the European Union next year and said their rights would be respected within the bloc.
"The outcome of the Hungarian referendum, after the recent 'yes' to the EU by Slovenian and Maltese voters, is a real occasion for joy," the EU's executive branch said in a statement.
Nearly 84 per cent of Hungarians voted yesterday in favour of EU membership, although the turnout, at 46 per cent, was well below the 70 per cent the government had hoped for.
The result means Hungary can now join the 15-nation EU in May next year, along with up to nine other candidate states from eastern Europe and the Mediterranean.
"By voting massively for EU membership, Hungarian voters made it clear that they want to build a future inside a strong and united Europe," said the Commission statement.
The vote showed that "Hungarians see European integration as the best way to preserve peace and prosperity", it added.
"Hungarians can be assured that their rights as a sovereign nation will be fully respected inside the European Union."
"Hungary joins an EU of minorities, a Union in which no people or state can dominate another but all have equal rights and duties and work towards the same goals", the Commission said.
AFP