Stockholm - Sweden's parliament ratified the Amsterdam Treaty yesterday. There were 226 votes in favour and 40 against, with seven abstentions and 76 deputies absent.
The vote makes Sweden the second country after Germany to ratify the treaty. The treaty is expected to be approved by most countries, but faces a hurdle in Denmark, where it is to be put to a referendum on May 28th.
Sweden's parliament decided the treaty did not involve any major changes, and therefore did not need to be put to a referendum.
Although parliament had been widely expected to approve the treaty, the debate lasted all day, with many emotional speeches, while about a 100 opponents of the EU demonstrated outside, the Swedish news agency TT said.
Sweden's Social Democrat minority government and most opposition parties were in favour of the treaty.
Opponents in parliament, mainly from the Greens and the ex-communist Left Party, said the treaty was another step towards a federal European superstate, and reduced the power of Swedish voters.