Denmark to Join Sweden and Finland in Strengthening EU Defense and Security Integration?

Decision on Whether to Abandon Opt-Out Rights for EU Defense and Security Policy by National Referendum on the 1st

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark
Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] Denmark is the only European Union (EU) member state that holds an opt-out right allowing it not to cooperate with the EU's defense and security policy.

On the 1st of next month (local time), Denmark will hold a referendum to decide whether to relinquish this opt-out right. If Denmark gives up its opt-out right, it is expected to create another turning point for Europe to strengthen integration in the defense sector, following Sweden and Finland's applications to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Polls show a high percentage of support for giving up the opt-out right. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, security concerns have increased, spreading the perception that cooperation with the EU in defense and security should be strengthened. With EU countries, including Germany, simultaneously increasing defense spending, there is also a view that continuing to maintain the opt-out, which distances Denmark from the EU's defense and security policy, would only isolate Denmark within the EU and reduce its influence.

On the other hand, there is also a considerable public opinion that maintaining the opt-out right and addressing defense and security issues through NATO is the best approach.

Denmark was a founding member of NATO in 1949. However, due to strong pressure from the Soviet Union, it did not allow foreign troops or nuclear weapons on its territory since the 1950s. This tradition was broken earlier this year. As tensions in the Baltic Sea region rose just before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. military was permitted to conduct training on Danish territory.

The ruling Social Democrats, who lean center-right, see now as the right time to give up the opt-out right. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced in March the plan to hold a referendum and strongly supports relinquishing the opt-out.

Mogens Jensen, a member of parliament from the Social Democrats, said, "NATO is a key means for Denmark's defense and security, and the EU can strengthen defense and security more firmly. If we do not cooperate, we cannot participate in the EU's defense and security negotiations."

Although polls lean toward giving up the opt-out right, there is also a view that the results should be watched carefully since Danes have traditionally been skeptical of European integration and have opposed European integration-related issues in several referendums.

Denmark rejected the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty, considered the EU constitution, in a 1992 referendum, which allowed it to have opt-outs not only in defense and security policy but also in matters related to joining the euro and judicial jurisdiction. Denmark finally approved the Maastricht Treaty in 1993 but rejected joining the euro in a 2000 referendum and also rejected a referendum proposal on changes to judicial jurisdiction in 2015.

The referendum will start at 8 a.m. and end at 8 p.m. on the 1st, with the results expected later that day.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.