Voters in Denmark on Wednesday overwhelmingly chose to overturn their country’s decades-long opt-out from the EU’s common defence policy, transmits MIA.
The “Yes” camp gathered 66.9% of the vote, official results showed, while 33.1% of voters opposed the measure. The result means Denmark will be able to participate in European security and defence cooperation programmes in the future – for example, in EU military missions abroad. Denmark was the only EU country with such a special arrangement, which has been in place since 1993.
Danes voted as Europe’s security landscape undergoes its biggest changes since the end of the Cold War.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has rallied the European Union along with the NATO defence alliance, the latter of which Sweden and Finland are now seeking to join. Denmark holds opt-outs from a number of European Union policies.
This is the first time that the country got rid of such an arrangement. In 2000, the people voted against taking up the euro currency and, in 2015, against EU judicial cooperation. “Tonight Denmark has sent a very important signal,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told supporters on Wednesday evening.
“To our allies in Europe and NATO, and to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin. We’re showing, that when Putin invades a free country and threatens the stability in Europe, we others pull together,” the premier said. The majority of Danish parties, including Frederiksen’s ruling Social Democrats, had spoken out in favour of abolishing the defence pact opt-out.
“The people of Denmark have made a historic choice,” European Council President Charles Michel tweeted. “The world has changed since Russia invaded #Ukraine. This decision will benefit Europe and make both the EU and the Danish people safer and stronger.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she welcomed “the strong message of commitment to our common security sent by the Danish people today,” adding that she was “convinced tha the EU and Denmark would both benefit from the decision.
Nearly 4.3 million Danes were called to vote on the measure on Wednesday. Voter turnout was around 65.8%.
