Denmark to join EU defence policy after historic vote

Denmark will join the European Union’s defence policy after it held a referendum. Final results showed almost 67 percent of voters were in favour of removing an opt-out to the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), in what was the largest recorded show of support in a referendum on an EU matter in Denmark. About 33 percent of voters polled were opposed.The vote to abolish the opt-out is a win for those in favour of greater EU cooperation, while those against have argued that the EU’s defence pact is strained by bureaucracy and that Denmark’s participation in EU military operations will be too costly.The referendum was the latest example of a European country seeking closer defence links with allies in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “We have sent a signal to our allies in NATO, in Europe. And we have sent a clear signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said late on Wednesday after most votes had been counted. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, posted a message on Twitter saying the Danish people had sent a "strong message of commitment to our common security." 

I welcome the strong message of commitment to our common security sent by the Danish people today.

Denmark’s expertise on defence is much valued.

I am convinced that both Denmark and the EU will benefit from this decision.

We are #StrongerTogether

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 1, 2022

One of the founding members of NATO, Denmark has stayed on the sidelines of the EU’s efforts to build a common security and defence policy in parallel with the trans-Atlantic military alliance. Denmark, historically critical of the EU, secured exemptions from joining the common security and defence policy (CSDP) and the euro in a 1993 referendum, but the country’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said it was time to change track. Participation in the EU’s defence policy will allow Denmark, a founding Nato member, to take part in joint EU military operations, such as those in Bosnia, Mali and Somalia, and will allow Danish officials to stay in the room when EU colleagues discuss defence issues.