Denmark In Denmark today, a referendum on joining EU defense policy

The Danes are currently voting to join the EU’s defense policy. The result will be clear late tonight.

In Denmark a referendum is under way on the country’s accession to the EU’s security and defense policy. Denmark has had a reservation since 1993 to opt out of the Union’s common defense policy.

For example, the polling station at Copenhagen City Hall was congested in the morning when people went to vote to go to work.

“History is changing, which affects us here in Denmark, and of course we have to react to it,” said the 24-year-old student who went to the polls. Mads Adam.

Prime minister Mette Frederiksen suggested lifting the reservation a couple of weeks after Russia had invaded Ukraine.

“It was a big surprise. For many, many years, no one expected the government to submit a reservation on defense policy to a referendum. The war in Ukraine was undoubtedly the main reason, ”says the director of the Europa think tank Lykke Friis.

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Almost all Danish parties and, according to polls, the majority of citizens are ready to lift their reservation, which has been in force for almost 30 years. Opponents come mainly from the far right and far left. However, if voting turnout remains very low, it can increase uncertainty about the victory of yes votes.

The election apartments in Denmark opened at 8 am and close at 8 pm Finnish time. Final results are not expected until a couple of hours later.

The Danes rejected the European Union’s creation of the Maastricht Treaty in a referendum in 1992. In order to prevent the whole treaty from collapsing, a number of reservations were negotiated with Denmark – not only on defense policy but also on EU cooperation in home affairs and justice.

Following the changes, the Danes approved the Maastricht Treaty in a new referendum the following year.

By the way, Denmark has not been out of international defense cooperation, as it is one of the founding members of NATO. Opponents of a common EU defense policy believe that NATO membership is sufficient for Denmark and should not be jeopardized by European arrangements.

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“I believe with all my heart that we should vote yes. We need to be more united with our neighbors at a time when we need to fight for European security, ”Prime Minister Frederiksen said in a TV debate on Sunday.

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