1999 Constantinopolitan European Union membership referendum (Queen of Cities)

The 1999 Constantinopolitan European Union membership referendum was held on January 24, 1999. Voters were asked whether they were in favor of Constantinople's membership in the European Union. While the issue of EU membership remained controversial throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the rise of the pro-European New Way as the main center-left party of the country led to increasing acceptance of the country's entry into the Union. The 'Yes' option was supported by most political parties, ranging from the center-left to the right-wing, while the 'No' campaign was spearheaded by the leftist Socialists and enjoyed support among the fringes of the political spectrum.

The victory of the 'Yes' by a considerable margin resulted in the accession of Constantinople on June 1, 1999 and its adoption of the Euro in 2002.

Background
Constantinople's historical neutrality during the Cold War tainted its relations with the European Economic Community (EEC) as a closer relationship with the Community would endanger Constantinople-Soviet Union relations. This stance was largely adopted by all political parties, except those that represented the liberal right. Following the restoration of democracy in 1975 the successive leftist governments continued to keep a distance between the EEC and Constantinople, despite growing trade between the two sides.

The relationship between the two sides began to grow close during the years of Antoniou's first stint as prime minister (1984-1992). The liberal Antoniou broke with Constantinople's neutrality by openly pursuing a pro-EEC and pro-American foreign policy. Negotiations on Constantinople's accession to the EEC began in 1988 when the two sides signed a free-trade agreement, with the country officially applying for membership on September 8, 1989. While accession to the EEC/EU was initially predicted for 1995, several complications would push the timetable back to 1999.

The decade since the country's application was marked by debates between the pro-Europeanists and Eurosceptics as successive governments reversed course multiple times. During Amina Saglam's brieft premiership (1992-1993) negotiations were frozen and while the next prime ministers generally agreed with EU membership, Constantinople's adoption of the Euro would prove another contentious issue. Eventually Antoniou returned as prime minister in 1996 and began a renewed round of negotiations that included an entry into the Eurozone upon the introduction of the Euro in 2002. The next prime minister Meryem Asatryan stayed on the the pro-European course, resulting in the signing the Treaty of Accession to the European Union in September 1998 with the accession itself being scheduled for June 1, 1999.