The Danes are called upon to pronounce, Wednesday, June 1, by referendum, on the exemption clause which excludes them from the common security and defense policy of the European Union.
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“No to more European Union”, “yes to cooperation, influence and security”, “no to war” … In the center of Copenhagen, the posters adorned with catchy slogans flourish on Electric posts, reminding the Danes that they are called upon to vote on Wednesday 1
Saturday, May 28, a debate took place, on the town hall square in Copenhagen. Reflecting a campaign that has trouble mobilizing, only a dozen seats are occupied in white canvas tent. “In Denmark, we only talk about the EU in negative terms and knowledge on Europe is very limited,” regrets the conservative deputy, Katarina Ammitzboll, partisan of “yes”. For her, “the essential is that [her country] can choose to participate in the Europe of defense or not, which is not possible today”.
At the gallery, it evokes hybrid threats against security, which require enhanced cooperation between European allies. Representative of the Social Democratic Party, Lars Werge assures that voting for the deletion of the exemption will allow Copenhagen to “strengthen its influence” on the European scene: “We can finally be seated at the table where decisions are made”, said -il.
an unthinkable idea before February 24 2>
Selma Bolo, political advisor to the unit list (red and green), which campaigns for the “no”, objects: “European military operations caused more harm than good.” , the president of the popular movement against the EU, Susanna Dyre-Greensite, warns that “to vote for the lifting of the derogation is to give more power and money to the EU, without having control”.
According to the latest polls, the “yes” would come in the lead, but abstention could reach records. “The people I meet, my friends and my family, many tell me that they do not understand what the ins and out of the vote,” deplores Lars Werge. The very idea of this referendum was also unthinkable before February 24 and the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
Denmark is the only EU member state, with Malta, not to participate in European defense policy. Copenhagen negotiated this exemption, as well as three others, in order to guarantee the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty in 1993, a year after his rejection by the Danes. The other “opt-out” relate to the single currency (Denmark has retained its crown), European citizenship, justice and internal affairs. Two referendums, aimed at repealing one of these exemptions, have already taken place: on the euro in 2000 and on justice in 2015. Each time, the no won.
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