At the time of this writing the vote was balanced on a knife's edge. Whatever the outcome it could be important, affecting similarly planned referendums in Sweden and Britain.

An observer saw the dangers in joining: "If you have a common currency, political power will be transferred from the national parliaments to Brussels, to bureaucrats and technocrats. When you have an economic union, you also have a political union.

A no vote could mean Sweden would abandon its plans to call its own referendum. But a yes vote could encourage Sweden to accept the common currency. If this happens it will put pressure on Britain to join as well. (Sources: The Observer, The Guardian (both London), International Herald Tribune.)