Soldiers march during a 75th anniversary celebration of the UN and a wreath-laying ceremony at Kastellet in Copenhagen, Denmark, on October 24, 2020. Ritzau Scanpix / Olafur Steinar Gestsson via REUTERS / File Photo
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COPENHAGEN, June 1 (Reuters) – Danes vote on Wednesday to decide whether to join EU defense policy, which could become the last resistance on the bloc to register. the Russian invasion of Ukraine forces countries to radically re-evaluate their security.
Denmark is the only member of the 27-nation bloc that is not part of the Common Security and Defense Policy, having secured exemptions from it and the euro in a 1993 referendum on the Maastricht Treaty, which laid the foundations of the modern EU.
If the Danes, who are notoriously critical of the EU, vote to abolish the opt-out, as polls suggest, it would mark another significant change in policy for Europe after Russia launched the invasion in February.
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Sweden and Finland decided this month to apply for NATO membership. Both Denmark and Germany have already promised to sharply increase their defense spending. Read more
“NATO will continue to be our most important tool, but the EU offers us another tool to secure our defense in the east,” said Mogens Jensen, a spokesman for the ruling Social Democrats.
Denmark is a founding member of NATO, but the alliance’s largest military power, the United States, has indicated that European allies must take more responsibility for their own security.
Participation in the Common Security and Defense Policy would allow Denmark to participate in joint EU military operations, such as those in Somalia, Mali and Bosnia.
And while the EU will benefit from Denmark’s extensive experience in military operations as part of NATO and other alliances, a favorable vote would be seen primarily as a symbolic victory in Brussels, according to Kristian Soby Kristensen, a researcher. senior of the Center for the University of Copenhagen. Military Studies.
“Political importance will outweigh the military contribution,” Kristensen told Reuters.
A large majority in parliament recommends abolishing the opt-out. Wednesday’s vote will be the third attempt by Danish lawmakers to lift one of the 1993 exemptions following the euro and 2000 votes on justice and home affairs, both of which failed.
Preliminary polls have shown a strong advantage for voters in favor of abolishing the opt-out, with about 48% in favor and 31% against.
Opponents have argued that EU defense co-operation is strained by bureaucracy and inefficient decision-making, while fearing the possibility of having to contribute to a potential EU supranational army.
The EU has no plans to establish a supranational army within the bloc, but has decided to form a rapid deployment force of up to 5,000 troops. Read more
Polling stations close at 18:00 GMT. The result is expected in the late evening.
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Report by Nikolaj Skydsgaard; Edited by Alison Williams
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