AP

Danish voters give strong ‘yes’ to joining EU defense policy

May 31, 2022, 12:05 PM | Updated: Jun 1, 2022, 2:52 pm

Mette Frederiksen, Danish Prime Minister and Chairman of The Social Democratic Party speaks to memb...

Mette Frederiksen, Danish Prime Minister and Chairman of The Social Democratic Party speaks to members of her party in the parliament in Copenhagen, Wednesday June 1, 2022. Denmark appears headed toward joining the European Union’s common defense policy that it long eschewed, partial results from a referendum indicate, in a new example of a European country seeking closer defense links with allies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

(Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)


              Mette Frederiksen, Danish Prime Minister and Chairman of The Social Democratic Party speaks to members of her party in the parliament in Copenhagen, Wednesday June 1, 2022. Denmark appears headed toward joining the European Union’s common defense policy that it long eschewed, partial results from a referendum indicate, in a new example of a European country seeking closer defense links with allies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Chairman of the Danish People's Party Morten Messerschmidt votes in Ordrup Hallen, Denmark, Wednesday 1 June 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country's 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen casts her ballot in Hareskovhallen, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              People vote at Rude Skov School in Birkeroed, Denmark, Wednesday June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              People vote at Rude Skov School in Birkeroed, Denmark, Wednesday June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              The five leaders of the political parties belonging to the 'National Compromize' campaign for a YES,  in the center of Copenhagen, Wednesday June 1, 2022. From left, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, leader of The Liberal Party, Sofie Carsten Nielsen, leader of The Social Liberal Party, Soeren Pape, leader of the Conservative Party, Pia Olsen Dyhr, leader of the The Socialist Peoples Party and Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Chairman of the Danish People's Party Morten Messerschmidt votes in Ordrup Hallen, Denmark, Wednesday 1 June 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country's 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen casts her ballot in Hareskovhallen, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              People vote at Rude Skov School in Birkeroed, Denmark, Wednesday June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              People vote at Rude Skov School in Birkeroed, Denmark, Wednesday June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              The five leaders of the political parties belonging to the 'National Compromize' campaign for a YES,  in the center of Copenhagen, Wednesday June 1, 2022. From left, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, leader of The Liberal Party, Sofie Carsten Nielsen, leader of The Social Liberal Party, Soeren Pape, leader of the Conservative Party, Pia Olsen Dyhr, leader of the The Socialist Peoples Party and Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Chairman of the Danish People's Party Morten Messerschmidt votes in Ordrup Hallen, Denmark, Wednesday 1 June 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country's 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen casts her ballot in Hareskovhallen, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              People vote at Rude Skov School in Birkeroed, Denmark, Wednesday June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              People vote at Rude Skov School in Birkeroed, Denmark, Wednesday June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              The five leaders of the political parties belonging to the 'National Compromize' campaign for a YES,  in the center of Copenhagen, Wednesday June 1, 2022. From left, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, leader of The Liberal Party, Sofie Carsten Nielsen, leader of The Social Liberal Party, Soeren Pape, leader of the Conservative Party, Pia Olsen Dyhr, leader of the The Socialist Peoples Party and Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Chairman of the Danish People's Party Morten Messerschmidt votes in Ordrup Hallen, Denmark, Wednesday 1 June 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country's 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen casts her ballot in Hareskovhallen, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              People vote at Rude Skov School in Birkeroed, Denmark, Wednesday June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              People vote at Rude Skov School in Birkeroed, Denmark, Wednesday June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Emil Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              The five leaders of the political parties belonging to the 'National Compromize' campaign for a YES,  in the center of Copenhagen, Wednesday June 1, 2022. From left, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, leader of The Liberal Party, Sofie Carsten Nielsen, leader of The Social Liberal Party, Soeren Pape, leader of the Conservative Party, Pia Olsen Dyhr, leader of the The Socialist Peoples Party and Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen casts her ballot in Hareskovhallen, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danes arrive to cast their ballots in a referendum on defense policy in Viborg Stadium Hall, in Viborg, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen casts her ballot in Hareskovhallen, Denmark, Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Polling stations opened in Denmark for voters to decide Wednesday whether to abandon their country’s 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Soeren Pape leader of the Conservative Party participates in a partyleader debate on Danish television in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Danish citizens are voting in a referendum that will decide whether their country will abandon its 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen participates in a partyleader debate on Danish television in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Danish citizens are voting in a referendum that will decide whether their country will abandon its 30-year-old opt-out from the European Union's common defense policy. (Philip Davali/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Political leader The Red-Green Alliance Mai Villadsen hands out flyers during their NO campaign at Noerreport Station in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Danish voters on Wednesday will decide whether to abandon their country's 30-year-old opt-out from the bloc's common defense policy. Writing on posters reads in Danish "The defense industry is one of the most climate damaging in the world, no defense reservation." (Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Political leader The Red-Green Alliance Mai Villadsen hands out flyers during their NO campaign at Noerreport Station in Copenhagen, Denmark, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Danish voters on Wednesday will decide whether to abandon their country's 30-year-old opt-out from the bloc's common defense policy. Writing on flyer reads in Danish "Vote no on June 1, preserve the defense reservation." (Martin Sylvest/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)
            
              Chairman of the Danish People's Party Morten Messerschmidt hangs a poster with writing reading in Danish "Vote no to more EU", in Amagerbro in Copenhagen, Saturday, May 7, 2022. Historically skeptical about European Union efforts to deepen security cooperation, Danish voters on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 will decide whether to abandon their country's 30-year-old opt-out from the bloc's common defense policy. (Nils Meilvang/Ritzau Scanpix)
            
              FILE - Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, centre, speaks to people while on an election campaign, in Holbaek, Denmark, Saturday, May 28, 2022. Voters on Wednesday will decide whether to abandon their country's 30-year-old opt-out from the bloc's common defense policy. (Claus Bech/ Ritzau Scanpix via AP, File)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — With nearly all votes counted from a referendum Wednesday, Denmark is headed toward joining the European Union’s common defense policy that it long eschewed, a new example of a country in Europe seeking closer defense links with allies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The electoral commission said that with ballots fully counted in 84 of 92 Denmark’s electoral districts, 66.9% voted in favor of abandoning the country’s 30-year opt-out from the common EU policy and 33.1% against.

“An overwhelming majority of Danes have chosen to abolish the defense opt-out. I’m very, very happy about that,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

“We have sent a clear signal to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” she added. “With the decision we have made, we show that when Putin invades a free and independent country and threatens peace and stability, we will move closer together.”

On Twitter, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock applauded the outcome of the Danish vote. “Every step each of us takes, makes us stronger in the face of these tectonic shifts.”

Ending Denmark’s opt-out would have limited practical effect for either Denmark or the EU. The referendum follows the historic bids by fellow Nordic countries Sweden and Finland to join NATO — something to be taken up at a summit next month.

For Denmark, a founding member of the 30-member defense alliance, joining the EU’s defense policy would have a relatively modest impact on Europe’s security architecture, particularly compared to Sweden and Finland joining NATO. But Christine Nissen, a researcher with the Danish Institute for International Studies, said both moves were “part of the same story,” and would strengthen military cooperation on a continent stunned by the war in Ukraine.

The main effect of abandoning the opt-out will be that Danish officials could stay in the room when EU colleagues discuss defense topics, and Danish forces can take part in EU military operations, such as those in Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

It would be the first time that one of the four Danish opt-outs from the EU’s Maastricht Treaty, which laid the foundation for political and economic union, is scrapped by voters in Denmark.

“I believe people have voted yes because of the war in Ukraine. The ‘yes’ side has tried to misuse the war in Ukraine to make the Danes feel that it is important that we stand together,” said Morten Messerschmidt, the leader of the opposition Danish People’s Party and a leading opponent of removing the defense opt-out.

One of the founding members of NATO, Denmark has stayed on the sidelines of the EU’s efforts to build a common security and defense policy in parallel with the trans-Atlantic military alliance.

For decades, Europe’s been a source of contention in Denmark. In 1992, voters set back plans to turn the European construction into a union by rejecting the Maastricht treaty amid widespread opposition to a federal European government that could limit the sovereignty of individual nations.

At an EU summit in Edinburgh, Scotland, later that year, European leaders agreed on a text with tailor-made provisions allowing Danes to ratify a revised treaty with four provisions.

They allowed Danes to stay out of a joint EU citizenship, justice and home affairs, the monetary union which allowed Danes to stay out of the euro and keep the krone, and defense.

The citizenship issue, which said European citizenship would not replace national citizenship, has since become irrelevant as other members later adopted the same position.

But the other provisions remain intact despite efforts by successive government to overturn them. In a 2000 referendum, Danish voters decided to stay outside the euro and 15 years later they voted to keep the exemption on justice and home affairs.

Frederiksen, who Wednesday became the first Danish prime minister to win a referendum on removing an opt-out, said she was not tempted to test other opt-outs in plebiscites.

Turnout was 66.23%, according to initial official figures.

___

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