Denmark votes on joining EU defence policy & More News Here

After staying out of the European Union’s widespread defence policy for 30 years, Denmark votes Wednesday in a referendum on whether or not to overturn its opt-out after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

More than 65 % of the nation’s 4.3 million eligible voters are anticipated to vote in favour of dropping the exemption, the most recent opinion ballot revealed on Sunday prompt.

Analysts’ predictions have nonetheless been cautious, given the low voter turnout anticipated in a rustic that has typically stated “no” to additional EU integration, most not too long ago in 2015.

“We must always cast our ballots when there is a vote,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen urged Danes within the remaining televised debate of the marketing campaign on Sunday.

“I believe with all my heart that we have to vote yes. At a time when we need to fight for security in Europe, we need to be more united with our neighbours”, she stated.

Denmark has been an EU member since 1973, however it put the brakes on transferring extra energy to Brussels in 1992 when 50.7 % of Danes rejected the Maastricht Treaty, the EU’s founding treaty.

It wanted to be ratified by all member states to enter into pressure. In order to influence Danes to approve the treaty, Copenhagen negotiated a collection of exemptions and Danes lastly authorized it the next yr.

Since then, Denmark has remained exterior the European single forex, the euro – which it rejected in a 2000 referendum – in addition to the bloc’s widespread insurance policies on justice and residential affairs, and defence.

‘Ukraine the foremost purpose’

The defence opt-out signifies that the Scandinavian nation, a founding member of NATO, doesn’t take part in EU overseas policy the place defence is anxious and doesn’t contribute troops to EU army missions.

Denmark is the one nation to have negotiated a defence opt-out, although Malta stays de facto exterior as nicely. Copenhagen has exercised its opt-out 235 instances in 29 years, in accordance with a tally by the Europa assume tank.

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Danish PM Frederiksen known as the referendum simply two weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and after having reached an settlement with a majority of events in Denmark’s parliament, the Folketing.

At the identical time, she additionally introduced plans to extend defence spending to 2 % of GDP, consistent with NATO membership necessities, by 2033.

“It was a big surprise”, stated the director of the Europa assume tank, Lykke Friis.

“For the past many, many years, nobody thought that the government would put the defence opt-out to a national referendum”, she stated.

“There’s no doubt that Ukraine was the major reason for calling the referendum.”

Berlin’s announcement that it was reversing a long time of defence policy by massively mountaineering its army spending additionally performed a key position within the Danish resolution, Friis stated.

Germany is Denmark’s closest ally, together with the United States.

“The very fact that they stepped up their game put Denmark in a position where we could not hide behind Germany any more”.

‘NATO is sufficient’

Eleven of Denmark’s 14 events have urged voters to say “yes” to dropping the opt-out, representing greater than three-quarters of seats in parliament.

Two far-right eurosceptic events – the Danish People’s Party and The New Right – in addition to the far-left Unity List, have in the meantime known as for Danes to say “no”.

One of their essential arguments is that the emergence of a joint European defence would come on the expense of NATO, which has been the cornerstone of Denmark’s defence since its creation in 1949.

“NATO is the guarantor of Denmark’s security. It would be totally different if it were decided in Brussels,” the pinnacle of the Danish People’s Party Morten Messerschmitt argued throughout Sunday’s debate.

After Finland and Sweden not too long ago reversed a long time of army non-alignment to use for membership in NATO, and the Danish referendum, the three Nordic neighbours may all out of the blue discover themselves doubled up on European defence policy and NATO membership.

The outcomes of the referendum are anticipated round 11:00pm on Wednesday.

Denmark’s autonomous territories of Greenland – which isn’t within the EU – and the Faroe Islands should not taking part within the referendum.

In December 2015, Danes voted “no” to strengthening their cooperation with the European Union on police and safety issues for concern of dropping their sovereignty over immigration.

(- AFP)

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