People in Moldova have backed the Eastern European country's proposed changes to its constitution and commitment to joining the EU by the thinnest of margins in a referendum. Official data put Yes on 50.46% and No on 49.54% on Monday afternoon, with more than 99.6% of votes counted.

Half of Moldovans voted "yes" in Sunday's referendum on the country's EU aspirations, based on 97.66% of votes counted, according to preliminary results given on Moldova's Central Election Commission's website early on Monday.

Moldovans were evenly split on Monday amid final counting in a geopolitically momentous referendum on European Union accession with 50.08% in favor and 49.92% against, electoral authorities said.