Denmark: Government organizes referendum to integrate country into EU defense policy

Because of tension with Russia, her government Denmark wants to join the European Union’s defense policy and will hold a referendum to that effect on June 1, the prime minister announced today.

“We hope that all Danes will support the lifting of this exemption granted to Denmark for not pursuing EU military policy,” said Mete Frederiksen.

“Historic times require historic decisions,” she told a news conference, explaining why her government had decided to abandon the 30-year-old “non-participation option” of Denmark.

The referendum is part of the agreement reached today by most of the parties represented in Parliament. The agreement also envisions an increase in defense spending, which will reach 2% of GDP (as is NATO’s target) by 2033. For the next two years, the government has decided to release 7 billion kroner (about 940 million euros). for additional defense costs.

Copenhagen also intends to break free from Russian gas “as soon as possible,” she said.

The June referendum will be the ninth for Danish voters on issues related to their country’s relations with the EU since 1972. After voters rejected the Maastricht Treaty in June 1992, Copenhagen was ousted by some sectors, such as the single currency. Thus, Denmark is not fully involved in the implementation of certain measures relating to justice and home affairs. The government then organized a new referendum and this time the voters approved the treaty. Exceptions can be lifted, always through a referendum.

In December 2015, the Danes again refused to step up their co-operation with the EU on policing and security, fearing that they would lose their right to decide on immigration issues on their own.