Fifty-six percent of voters who took part in a referendum on Sunday opposed adopting the euro, with 42% in favour.

The Swedish Prime Minister, Goran Persson - who had campaigned for a Yes vote - said the result was a clear victory for opponents of Swedish Euro-membership.

European Commission President Romano Prodi believes that the vote would mean Sweden losing influence in EU decision-making.

What do you think? Is it the right decision for Sweden? Should they join the euro?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Sultan S. Sattani, India Is the 'No' vote against the euro in the Swedish referendum a sign of the maturity of the nation's democracy? Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

I think it is right and just that Sweden have said no to the Euro, at least they have a stable economy and much better prospects for it. Look at the problems it has created for other countries; factory and company closures/relocation, higher taxes, higher product prices, poorer welfare i.e. pensions etc and worse public service pending with severe cuts. If Sweden said yes, then it would have gone to rack and ruin straight away and others not in the Euro would be saying "I told you so" but the difficulty is; once you have adopted and signed up, it is very difficult to turn back the tide on the damage it has already caused to your country's economy and wellbeing.
Anthony, UK

The main reason no-voters offered for rejecting the Euro was "democracy". This strikes me as somewhat odd, since there is preciously little democratic control over the Swedish central bank (Riksbanken) and the Krona already. If bankers in Stockholm decide the interest rate without democratic control or if bankers in Frankfurt do it, what's the difference from a democratic point of view?
Magnus, Sweden

The people of Sweden have seen what the Euro has done for Germany and, quite rightly, they think it would do the same for them. How right they are to vote to keep all their options open.
John, United Kingdom

I am pleased with the result of the referendum. Before the referendum in 1994 which decided that Sweden would become a member of the EU the politicians promised loads of new jobs and lowered prices, promises that haven't been met. So why should we listen to them now when they promise the exact same thing and the Eurozone's performance is poor. The biggest problem the "yes" side had was that the other side actually listened to them, and then rightly refuted what they said.
Dennis, Sweden

Something that keeps coming through here from the 'Yes' lobby and the 'inevitablists' is that there will be another referendum when the Swedes can get it right. Why does a 'no' vote have to lead to another referendum? I think it's a safe bet that if they'd voted 'Yes' then that would have been the end of it.
Rob, UK

Most people say that we voted "No" just because we couldn't see the benefits or we just didn't know what was best for us, we should have listened to the businessmen for they know better. Well, I can say one thing. That's completely wrong. The reason I voted No is because the EMU is at the moment an undemocratic project were documents are being held secret for 30 years, those in charge are not chosen by the voters and we have no power over them. I will not vote "Yes" until I see something democratic instead of the closed-wall bureaucracy that the Euro-project is today. So for many of us it's not about ignorance, it's about knowing.
Andreas, Sweden

YES!! I'm very pleased with the result. I think we were very lucky to be allowed to have a say in this. Because the question does matter for the Swedish people. We don't want to be ruled by some bureaucrats hundreds of miles away. We have a much better economy than a lot of the countries in the eurozone. Why give up a better, democratic system, which is open to society?
Linn�a, Sweden

Mr Prodi pronounces that Sweden will now have less influence in Brussels. I think it is more relevant that Brussels will now have less influence in Sweden.
Andy Cattrell, UK

This is not a watershed event Henrik, Sweden

Though the referendum was an advisory one, the result was clear. It should be respected. Amidst the fanfare and drama, I believe it is prudent to point out that this decision in itself is quite unlikely to have any major effects on the Eurozone, the EU or Sweden, at least in the foreseeable future. The market reactions are telling exactly in their lack of reaction. This is not a watershed event. As Olof Palme said, "Politics is the art of the possible". What comes of this is what we decide should come of it. No outcomes writ in stone, only new possibilities.
Henrik, Sweden

The majority voted against the euro? Well, a SMALL majority, yes. And of that majority, how many actually know anything about the economic implications of the Euro, and how many are simply voting on the basis of uninformed emotional claptrap? Governments are elected to make decisions on issues about which the general public do not have specialist knowledge. Therefore whether or not a country joins the Euro should be decided by the a Government - not by a referendum. It's strange how an issue like the single currency is regarded as "important, therefore a referendum must be held", whereas something as critical as going to war is decided without even having a vote!
Simon Moore, EU

European leaders pontificate about democracy until they are confronted with the popular will at the ballot box at which point they chastise the population for not being as smart as they are. Given their understanding of what democracy is about, it would be folly for anyone to voluntarily join the EU superstate and enter a monetary union over which they have no control and from which there may never be any possible retreat.
Mark, USA

Has anybody noticed how most of the people saying that Sweden made the wrong decision are form other countries? Personally, I'm sick and tired of having people patronise me about joining the Euro and telling me that if I'm anti-Euro it's because I'm ignorant. If it's so great and wonderful, how come politicians are having so much trouble getting everybody to understand the amazing benefits? Also, where are all the success stories from France and Germany? They've had it a while now so surely we should be able to see some of these great benefits that the politicians are unable to explain?
Nik, UK

The government, press, big business all favoured and pushed for a yes vote without fully explaining the facts John, Ireland

Have spent the last few months in Sweden, it struck me how similar the whole referendum in Sweden was to the 1st Nice referendum that was held in Ireland. In both cases, the government, press, big business all favoured and pushed for a yes vote without fully explaining the facts. The outcome was similar in both cases - an emphatic NO vote cos the people didn't fully understand the implications of a yes vote.
John, Ireland

I can't understand these people that think joining the Euro is going to revolutionise the economy. Look at the German and French economies, stagnant, the whole Eurozone, Stagnant. How is Sweden and the UK joining this failure of a scheme going to radically improve the economy throughout Europe?
Mark, UK

Roger Jackson, England

I think the euro would be good for Sweden and was very disappointed when the result of the referendum was a "No". One would naturally get angry. I hope everything turns out for the best so that we can have another referendum shortly! The Swedes have to have a clear idea of the fact that the Swedish "Krona" is too uncertain, the Euro is a stable currency and that is what Sweden needs! It could also be fun for the Swedes if we could get value for our money once!
Johanna, Sweden

I voted no to make a symbolic point Bryan Ledger, Germany

Of course we Swedes are for Europe! But I voted no to make a symbolic point: I am also for the world, and the EU has already done too much to harm countries outside the region. When the EU is willing to see its responsibility towards the South I will be more than happy to swap my Krona for the euro.
Anna, Sweden

I am an Englishman and have lived in Germany for 25 years. Since the introduction of the Euro our cost of living has doubled. It is alright for people living in the UK to say they want the Euro but I say "well done Sweden". The only time anyone should accept the Euro is when they can control their own monetary policy.
Bryan Ledger, Germany

As a Swede, I would say no, we did not make the right decision. I'm deeply disappointed with my fellow citizens and can only hope that we'll be given another chance later on.
Linn, Sweden

It certainly wasn't the right decision. A large proportion of the no-voters refused to listen to the debate at all, stubbornly sticking to their first knee-jerk reaction against change. People seem to regard democracy solely as a right and forget that this kind of privilege comes with a responsibility, the responsibility to keep oneself informed of the debate and the arguments of both sides. Had these anti-change people bothered to read the papers and watch the televised debates they would have realised that although the no-camp had a small number of good arguments most of said arguments did not stand up to scrutiny.
Anna, UK

We did not vote no to Europe - we said yes! To democracy and the right to make our own choices.
Elisabeth, Sweden

Sweden has voted to delay the inevitable Jonathan Kerr, UK

Sweden has voted to delay the inevitable. Moving closer into Europe will happen for all countries like the UK and Sweden, and the world needs a strong united Europe, however difficult it is to implement, however long it takes, and whatever the disadvantages. Otherwise what will balance the power of self-serving, ruthless governments such as the US and China over the next few decades? Where will the voice of reason be heard from in the world? The UN doesn't have enough power to provide it - when we think about Europe, we should think of our grandchildren.
Jonathan Kerr, UK

I would simply like to point out that being in a majority does not make you right; the people of Sweden (being in a majority of saying 'no' to Euro) and the people of Europe. Perhaps the majority of countries with the Euro are wrong. Just because you agree with the majority doesn't mean you're right.
Suresh Das, AUS

No! It should've been Yes! In the big cities like Stockholm and Malmoe the majority voted Yes. But in the other parts of Sweden, people voted No. It is just that people are afraid of new changes. Old people for example. "Euro, what's that? Nah, I rather stick to good ol' "kronan". But one thing is kind of weird. The first-time-voters voted No. I can't understand that. Too bad for me that I wasn't old enough. But in 2010, yeah.
Otto Nordenski�ld, Sweden

Sweden is demonstrating just how quickly a nation can lose its nerve Andrew Waldron, England

From the forefront of the sexual revolution in the 60s, to the basement of the currency revolution today, Sweden is demonstrating just how quickly a nation can lose its nerve. Unhappily, I feel they are going to pay dearly for their lack of courage.
Andrew Waldron, England

A loss in cultural and/or national identity because Sweden joins the euro? I don't think Germans or French are less of a country because they are in the Eurozone. People want to stick to the Krona (or the Pound) just because of nostalgia, not for economic reasons. But that is everyone's loss.
Seb, Spain

Well done Sweden. The undemocratic and bureaucratic Europe project has gone far enough. Britain needs a referendum on the new 'European' constitution which is a greater threat to our democracy and independence than the euro is.
Andy Triggs, UK

I do think it's a mistake that will have to be rectified anyway in a few years Cyndee Pelley, USA

While I certainly respect the right of the Swedish people to make this decision for themselves, I do think it's a mistake that will have to be rectified anyway in a few years. Europe is such a fluid place with trade and borders that a common currency can only facilitate and strengthen the economies in the region.
Cyndee Pelley, USA

Good show Sweden! The Euro is not inevitable as Europhiles would like to make everyone think. On the contrary, there is a huge worldwide market place outside the EU and Sweden, like Great Britain, will do just fine, like they have always done. What about forming a non EU free trade zone, loosely linked to NAFTA for those countries who would like to retain sovereignty over their right to control their own destiny.
P. Fleming, Singapore

Not surprisingly, the only region with a majority of "yes" votes was Stockholm. It is the business people who can assess the benefits more clearly without bias. Too bad the decision was made by the public who are just afraid of the unknown. And too bad the UK doesn't stop whining about everything in the EU.
Dimitrios, Greece

There were to be three referenda for membership of the European Union. First Finland, then Sweden and finally Norway. Finland opted to join, and then Sweden, I felt, believing that Norway would follow suite, also elected for membership. Norway, however, resisted. I think this may have shaken Sweden's conviction that EU membership was the way for Scandinavia to go, and perhaps opting to retain the Krona is a lingering repercussion. I think the decision was a belated show of bravery on behalf of the Swedish population, akin to the rejection of EU membership by Norway several years before.
Chris Hall, Norway

The company is leaving the UK because we are not in the euro and our jobs are easier and cheaper to cut John, UK

Definitely not the right choice. I work for a US equipment manufacturing corporation in the UK. Since I joined 6 years ago, the company has continued to gradually shrink its UK operations. This culminated in a plant move abroad in December 2002 with 250 jobs gone. This December we know there will be another 150 gone from another factory. Another office is to go in March. The company is leaving the UK because we are not in the euro and our jobs are easier and cheaper to cut.
John, UK

Economic conditions change as surely as the tide comes in. The freedom to elect and decide on your own future has not changed for thousands of years. We would be well advised to follow the Swedish example and stay out - for good.
Julian, UK

I am for a single currency to balance the US dollar, but against the UK being governed by unelected eurocrats. Well done Sweden in making future self-governance!
Peter, England

They have made the right choice for themselves, but for Europe it is a big setback. All this talk about most of Sweden's business with Europe is very misleading. Sweden exports more products to Europe than they import, besides businesses are not suddenly going to stop selling their product to the Swedish market just because it's in a different currency.
Shane, UK

What kind of credibility is the EU showing if it doesn't show a consensus regarding crucial internal and foreign policies?
That said, the referendum being a democratic decision, it has to be respected.
Mathieu, France

You wouldn't, after all, let your next door neighbour control your household finances, would you? Roger, England

Yes! I lived in the north of Sweden for two years back in the 1980's, and the locals expressed concern about decisions regarding their lives being taken in Stockholm, many miles to the south, with little regional representation. Can you imagine how that problem would be compounded by non-Swedish bureaucrats and bankers taking vital decisions for the Swedes? A great day for the majority of people in Europe (including Germany and France) that recognise that you cannot allow foreigners to control your national wallet. You wouldn't, after all, let your next door neighbour control your household finances, would you?
Roger, England

A sad day for both Sweden and Europe. The irony of the situation is that Sweden did not obtain an EMU option clause from Maastricht in 1994 like Denmark and the UK did, so the referendum was totally unnecessary. According to Maastrich, Sweden is obliged to fully join the EMU and implement the euro. Anyhoo, I bet two eurocents that Sweden will adopt the euro within the next few years as a natural and inevitable process.
Tony Green, Sweden

Nobody is able to say whether that decision was right or wrong. It was a decision of sovereign people without any pressure and must be respected without any revenge from the Euro camp. It is always admirable when people are asked for their say and politicians and other nations respect that say.
Mikko Toivonen, Finland

Shame on us! Sweden needs the euro even more than the UK does. Like the UK it has considerable foreign trade, especially with EU, but its economy is also much more convergent with the eurozone. And, unlike the UK it is a relatively small country within the EU. The influence of Sweden on the economic course that Europe is going was nothing to write home about. It will now be reduced even more. There is no benefit whatsoever for the Swedes to keep their own currency.
John, UK

The euro has finally met its Waterloo. The Swedes should write a song about that....
James Buffy-Maun, UK

European countries need to fully integrate into Europe, and that is done by adopting the euro currency. Britain will have to join someday, as well as Sweden. It is no good when people vote no simply because they don't want to lose their image.
Bradley Thomas, UK

Hooray for Sweden, first they save the England football team by loaning us Sven, and now they are helping us to defeat the euro. I feel like kissing the first Swede I meet!
Zoe Williams, England

Of course we should respect the decision of the Swedish electorate but I do hope it was an educated decision and not one governed by fear, euroscepticism and downright racism which I fear is what our own referendum will lead to. Once we join I believe the Swedish and indeed Danish attitudes will change.
Matthew Beevor, UK

There is no chance that we will be allowed to vote on the euro Paul, England

The Swedish people were allowed to decide for themselves about joining the single European currency and they made the decision that they felt was right for them (one with which I happen to agree). There is no chance that we will be allowed to vote on the euro because Blair knows he would lose.
Paul, England

It's impossible to tell yet whether Sweden made the right choice. I am pro-euro myself but I do feel uneasy at the lack of any positive popular desire to become more integrated across Europe. The people of most countries seem rather lukewarm about it and it seems to be the politicians and the European Commission who are pushing this agenda. It seems to me that without strong popular support, further integration seems bound to fail in the long-term.
Al, UK

Let them keep their exotic krona for now if they want. Eventually, they will adopt the strong and practical euro. Just like the UK, if they want to stay in the EU.
Jan, Belgium

Sweden has definitely made the right choice. The voters do not want to be saddled with the economic problems that are associated with the eurozone countries. However I'm pretty certain there will be another referendum soon, so the EU can make sure that the Swedes vote yes, as has been done in the past with Denmark and Ireland on referendums to do with the EU.
Philip Shorter, England

Too right Sweden! Keep those eurocrats at arm's length.
Julian,

Yes of course you have made the right decision, because it was a democratic one Alan, U.K

Absolutely fantastic news! Well done Sweden. Yes of course you have made the right decision, because it was a democratic one. One which was denied to most of the existing Euro zone countries whom I am certain, had they have been given a choice would have voted in the same way. Enjoy your party and your own individual culture.
Alan, U.K

No, certainly not because our experiences, here in Finland, from moving over to use the euro as our currency has been mainly positive. Please bare in mind that Finland and Sweden are very similar countries economically.
Tomas, Finland

I don't suppose the government will 'allow' us to have a referendum in this country.
Good for Sweden though - hanging onto their beliefs on this issue and also their cultural identity
Liz, UK

It is a pity. Anyway, the majority wins. That's democracy. It is transparent and must be respected.
Kamarudin, Malaysia

The Swedes have overwhelmingly voted against European bureaucracy. The fear of being governed by unelected cronies from other countries have helped them make a rational choice.
Chris Snell, UK