Danish opt-outs from the European Union
The Danish governments has held three referendums on modifying its opt-outs. The first in 2000 rejected the adoption of the euro by 53.2% to 46.8% on a turnout of 87.6%. The second in 2015 rejected converting Denmark's current full opt-out on home and justice matters into a case-by-case opt-out similar to that held by Ireland and the United Kingdom (the latter until its exit from the EU) by 53.1% to 46.9%.[1] The third in 2022, on abolishing the defence opt-out, took place on 1 June 2022 with 66.9% voting yes, and 33.1% voting no.
As a result, as of November 2022, Denmark has had three opt-outs: the euro opt-out, the policing-justice opt-out, and the citizenship opt-out, of which the last has been superfluous since the
History
Denmark originally obtained four opt-outs from the
The EMU opt-out means that Denmark is not obliged to participate in the third phase of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism, that is, to replace the Danish krone with the euro. The abolition of the euro opt-out was put to a referendum in 2000 and was rejected.
The JHA opt-out exempts Denmark from certain areas of home affairs. Significant parts of these areas were transferred from the third
The CSDP opt-out originally meant Denmark would not be obliged to join the Western European Union (which originally handled the defence tasks of the EU). Later, it meant that Denmark did not participate in the European Union's foreign policy where defence was concerned. Hence, it did not take part in decisions, did not act in that area, and did not contribute troops to missions conducted under the auspices of the European Union.[4] In a June 2022 referendum, the Danish electorate voted to fully abolish this opt-out and begin participating in the EU's defence operations as of 1 July 2022;[2] hence, this opt-out in no longer in force.
The citizenship opt-out stated that European Union citizenship did not replace Danish national citizenship; this opt-out was rendered obsolete when the
Summary table
Country | Number of opt‑outs | Policy area | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) | Area of freedom, security and justice (AFSJ) | Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) | |||
Eurozone | Genereal AFSJ | Schengen Area | |||
Denmark | 2 | Opt-out[a] | Opt-out | Intergovernmental | Former opt-out |
|
Proposals to abolish the opt-outs
Anders Fogh Rasmussen government
One or more
The referendum was originally expected to be held in the autumn of 2008
Lars Løkke Rasmussen government
Following the appointment of Anders Fogh Rasmussen as Secretary General of NATO in 2009, his successor, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, announced that the opt-outs would be put to a referendum "when the time is right", which was seen as an indication that he did not necessarily intend to proceed with a referendum.[14]
A month later, in May 2009, Løkke Rasmussen stated that he hoped at least a referendum on the common currency would take place before the parliamentary elections in 2011 so that Denmark could become "a full member of the European Union",
In November 2009 the leaders of the three largest opposition parties
Ultimately, no referendum was held and Løkke Rasmussen's coalition lost the
Helle Thorning-Schmidt government
After the victory of the left-wing coalition under Thorning-Schmidt in the
In August 2013, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the leader of the opposition Venstre party proposed that a referendum on the opt-outs from EU defence and justice co-operation, as well as on the Unified Patent Court, leaving opt-outs from European citizenship and the euro, be held on the same date as the 2014 European election.[24] The proposal was rejected by the Minister for European affairs, Nick Hækkerup, who argued that the timing was not right.[25]
In October 2014 Thorning-Schmidt announced plans to hold a referendum on converting the inflexible opt-out on home and justice matters into a flexible opt-out following the
Second Lars Løkke Rasmussen government
Following the election in June 2015, Venstre formed government with Lars Løkke Rasmussen again becoming Prime Minister. He committed to holding the referendum on converting the justice opt-out into an opt-in by Christmas 2015.[32][33] On 21 August 2015, the Danish government announced that the referendum would be held on 3 December 2015.[1] The government has also said it is planning on holding a referendum on abolishing its opt-out from the EU defence policy following the justice opt-out referendum.[34] Danes rejected the proposal by a margin of 53.1% to 46.9%. In May 2019 Rasmussen again proposed a referendum on abolishing its defence opt-out during the following parliamentary term, though his party lost the general election the following month.[35]
Frederiksen government
Following the
Opinion polls
A poll from early June 2008 saw a clear majority in favour of repealing the defence and judicial issues opt-outs, a very close race regarding the euro and a clear majority against repealing the citizenship opt-outs.[39] Following an increase in support for abolishing the opt-outs, support dropped in mid-May 2009; in January 2009, 49.8% were in favour of having the Euro as Danish currency, dropping to 45.2% against and 43.7% in favour in May 2009.[40] Support for abolishing opt-outs on legal and defence cooperation has also dwindled to equal numbers pro and against.[40]
Afterwards support for abolishing the opt-outs increased again. In October 2009, there was a majority in favour of abolishing each of the four opt-outs, the only difference being in the size of majority:
- Absolute majorities were in favour of adopting the euro (50% in favour, 43% opposed, 7% no opinion) and participating in a Common European Defence policy (66% in favour, 21% opposed, 13% no opinion).
- There were relative majorities in favour of judicial cooperation (47% in favour, 35% opposed, 18% no opinion) and EU citizenship (40% in favour, 30% opposed, 30% no opinion).
- When asked, how they would vote when they had to decide about all four opt-outs in a package, a relative majority of 42% would vote in favour of abolishing the opt-outs, 37% would vote in favour of keeping the opt-outs and 21% expressed no opinion.[41]
Following the European sovereign debt crisis, particularly the financial market turmoil of 2011, support for the euro dropped dramatically with a poll showing 61% of respondents opposing adoption of the euro, with 37% in favour.[42]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Denmark to vote on Justice and Home Affairs opt-in model on 3 December". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. 21 August 2015. Archived from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ a b EU Information Centre, ed. (25 November 2022). "The Danish opt-outs from EU cooperation". EU Information Centre. The Danish Parliament. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
- ^ Europolitics (7 November 2007). "Treaty of Lisbon – Here is what changes!" (PDF). Europolitics № 3407. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
- ^ Motivations and consequences of the Danish CSDP opt-out (Revue Stratégique n. 91–92): http://www.stratisc.org/Strategique_91-92_TDM.htm
- ^ Olsen, Jan M. (22 November 2007). "Denmark to Hold New Referendum on Euro". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 3 December 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2007.
- ^ Charter, David (30 October 2008). "Denmark currency crisis prompts euro re-think – Times Online". London: Business.timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
- ^ Parker, George; Eaglesham, Jean; Benoit, Betrand (1 January 2003). "Danes face second referendum on joining euro". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 4 June 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2007.
- ^ Danish PM says possible autumn referendum on EU opt-outs – EUbusiness.com – business, legal and economic news and information from the European Union Archived 28 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Europa – Nachrichten – Kopenhagen strebt in die Euro-Zone". FTD.de. 17 March 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- ^ Lisbeth Kirk. "EUobserver.com". EUobserver. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
- ^ "Besked om EU-afstemning efter sommer". Politiken (in Danish). 11 June 2008. Retrieved 11 June 2008.
- ^ "Fogh aflyser EU-afstemninger". Politiken (in Danish). 7 August 2008. Archived from the original on 8 August 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
- ^ "Fogh klar til eurovalg næste år". Politiken (in Danish). 22 January 2009. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2009.
- ^ "S og R raser over Løkkes EU-nøl" (in Danish). DR. 14 April 2009. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
- ^ "Løkke R.: Euro-vote this term?". Politiken. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ^ "Løkke: Vi skal stemme om euroen". Politiken (in Danish). 13 May 2009. Archived from the original on 16 May 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2009.
- ^ "Denmark eyeing referendum on euro". EUobserver. 3 March 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Ekspert: Løkkes varslede EU-afstemning er dårlig timing". Politiken. 3 March 2011. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Oppositionen vil stemme om EU-forbehold". Politiken (in Danish). 24 November 2009. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- ^ Pop, Valentina (4 October 2011). "New Danish government rolls back border controls". EUobserver. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ Brand, Constant (13 October 2011). "Denmark scraps border-control plans". European Voice. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ "Danish prime minister skips referendum commitments". EU Observer. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ Lauritzen, Thomas; Jens Bostrup (26 June 2012). "Thorning udskyder afstemning om EU-forbehold". Politiken (in Danish). Archived from the original on 27 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
- ^ "Danish opposition agrees to quick EU referendum". 12 August 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "PM rejects opposition call for swift EU referendum". The Copenhagen Post. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Steensbeck, Bjarne (7 October 2014). "Regeringen gør klar til opgør med retsforbeholdet". DR. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ "Danish PM postpones EU referendum". EurActive. 8 October 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
- ^ "Aftale om Danmark i Europol". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ^ "Legislative files Denmark will opt-into if referendum is positive" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "One step closer to a referendum on the JHA opt-out – modalities have now been decided". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. 17 March 2015. Archived from the original on 6 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "Aftale om tilvalg af retsakter på området for retlige og indre anliggender" (PDF). Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "Regeringsgrundlag juni 2015: Sammen for Fremtiden (Government manifest June 2015: Together for the Future)" (PDF) (in Danish). Venstre. 27 June 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2015.
- ^ "New Danish government to hold EU referendum by Christmas". 28 June 2015.
- ^ "Danish government plans referendum on EU defence opt-out". Reuters. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ "Rasmussen wants Danish referendum over EU defence relationship". 15 May 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
- ^ "List of Union acts adopted pursuant to Article 26(1), Article 42 and Articles 43 to 46 of the Treaty on European Union, to be applied to Denmark as from 1 July 2022". Official Journal of the European Union. C (263): 11–14.
- ^ "Danes vote yes to abolish EU defence opt-out – here are the next steps". Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). 2 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
- ^ "Denmark's Zeitenwende". European Council on Foreign Relations. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
- ^ "Danes Assess Reversion of EU Exemptions: Angus Reid Global Monitor". Archived from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2008.
- ^ a b "Poll: Danes say no to euro". Politiken. 19 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
- ^ "Opinion Poll" (PDF). Dagbladet Børsen (in Danish). Greens Analyseinstitut. October 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- ^ Wienberg, Christian (27 September 2011). "Debt Crisis Pushes Danish Euro Opposition to Record, Poll Shows". Bloomberg. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
Further reading
- Howarth, David (1994). "The Compromise on Denmark and the Treaty on European Union: A Legal and Political Analysis". Common Market Law Review. 31 (4): 765–805. S2CID 151521949.
- Butler, Graham (2020). "The European Defence Union and Denmark's Defence Opt-out: A Legal Appraisal". European Foreign Affairs Review. 25 (1): 117–150. S2CID 216432180.