The overwhelming majority of Danes, almost 67%voted on Wednesday in favor of integration into the EU’s defense policy, after 30 years of exception, according to the scrutiny of 97% of the votes.
“Tonight, Denmark sent an important signal. To our allies in Europe and NATO, and to (President Vladimir) Putin,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told supporters.
“We show that when Putin invades a free country and threatens stability in Europe, we join“, he added.
European Union chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel hailed a “historic” vote in Denmark on Wednesday.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. AFP Photo
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“I salute the strong message of commitment towards our common security sent by the Danish people,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a tweet.
I am “convinced that Denmark and the EU will benefit from this decision“, he added.
“The people of Denmark have made a historic choice,” congratulated the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.
“Everything indicates that after thirty years, the Danes decided today” change position on defense and we must “work more closely with Europe,” declared the leader of the conservative opposition party, Soren Pape, after the first polls were released at the exit of the polls.
Denmark remained outside European defense policy for 30 yearss, and this change is a new consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He was the favorite among the 4.3 million Danes called to the polls.
“History is changing and it affects us here in Denmark, and of course we have to react to it,” Mads Adam, a 24-year-old political science student, told AFP.
“I think today this kind of voting is even more important. In times of war, it is clear that it is important to say whether you want to join this kind of community or not,” says Molly Stensgaard, a 55-year-old screenwriter.
Russian President Vladimir Putin. AFP Photo
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“I vote yes with all my heart”announced the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, when casting her vote in the city of Vaerlose, where she lives, on the outskirts of Copenhagen.
“Although Denmark is a fantastic country, the best country in the world in my opinion, we are still a small country, too small to be alone in a very, very uncertain world,” he added.
Denmark, member since 1973 of the European Union, It was one of the first Eurosceptic countries to reject the Maastricht Treaty, in 1992, by 50.7% of the votes.
To overcome the blockage that threatened the entry into force of the founding treaty throughout the EU, the country achieved several exceptionsknown as “opt outs” in European parlance, and finally said yes in a new vote the following year.
Since then, Denmark has stayed out of the euro (rejected in a referendum in 2000) but also from the EU’s defense, justice and home affairs policy, rejected again in a referendum in 2015.
By virtue of this last exception, the Scandinavian country, a founding member of NATO, it has not been able to participate in any EU military mission.
The defense policy of the 27 has gained momentum in recent years, although many countries still reject the idea of a European army.
Two weeks after the invasion of Ukraine, the Danish Prime Minister announced an agreement with the majority of parties in Parliament to put the end of the exception to a referendum, as well as important military investments to exceed the threshold of 2% of GDP What does NATO ask for?
Eleven parties out of 14 asked for yes, which represents more than three quarters of the seats in Parliament.
The two far-right Eurosceptic formations, the Danish People’s Party (DF) and the New Conservatives, as well as the radical left Unity List formation, They campaigned for no.
With the historic candidacy of Sweden and Finland to the Atlantic alliance and the Danish referendum, the three Nordic countries could soon combine their participation in European defense and in NATO.
Source: AFP and AP
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