COPENHAGEN – Denmark on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of withdrawing EU security and defense policy in a landmark referendum sparked by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Nearly 67% voted in favor while 33% opposed, according to the final results.
“When there is another war on our continent, you cannot be neutral. Tonight, Denmark has sent a very, very important signal to Putin and our allies,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a speech after the publication. of the surveys.
“Text messages come from colleagues abroad who are happy on behalf of Denmark,” Frederiksen added.
One of her colleagues was the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who said on Twitter that she welcomed the “strong message of commitment to our common security sent today by the Danish people”, and add that both Denmark and the EU “will benefit from this”. decision. ”
The elimination of the opt-out had the support of the Social Democratic government and nine other parties. Only three parties were in favor of maintaining exclusion, two on the far right and one on the far left.
The move breaks with long-standing Danish skepticism about greater European integration. Although Denmark is a strong supporter of the single market and greater economic cooperation, the country is very skeptical about further EU decision-making, voting in two previous referendums to keep the opt-outs in place. on the single currency and justice and home affairs.
It is also a great victory for Frederiksen, as she is the first Danish prime minister to succeed in eliminating EU exclusion, and provides a welcome boost as her popularity fell amid an ongoing investigation into the EU’s decision. his government to illegally remove all the vision of the country. population in 2020, before the national elections next year.
Choose to participate
The end of the 30-year opt-out means that Denmark will be able to participate in joint EU military operations and cooperate in the development and acquisition of military capabilities within the EU.
It is not yet clear which of the seven ongoing EU military missions Denmark will take part in. But during the election campaign, several parties supporting the Yes pointed to the peacekeeping mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia as missions they could see Denmark forming. part.
Aside from the referendum, the government and major parliamentary parties have also agreed to increase Denmark’s defense budget to 2 percent of GDP by 2033, in line with NATO’s spending target.
The referendum comes when other European nations also overturn long-held defense and security positions after the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Finland and Sweden have called on NATO to join, while in Germany, the coalition government and the conservative alliance CDU / CSU agreed on one euro. 100,000 million increase in the country’s military spending.
It also comes when Russian gas giant Gazprom confirmed on Wednesday that it has stopped supplying gas to Shell Energy Europe and Ørsted in Denmark after the two companies refused to pay in rubles.
However, unsupported parties have accused the Danish government of abusing the situation in Ukraine for its own benefit. Morten Messerschmidt, the leader of the far-right Danish People’s Party, said the Yes side “has tried to abuse the war in Ukraine to make the Danes feel that it is important that we be together.”
The parties that have spoken out for the war did not warn during the campaign of the additional costs and the loss of sovereignty that could result from the cancellation of the opt-out.
This article has been updated.