Denmark's referendum on ending its 30-year defense opt-out against EU military cooperation saw preliminary results indicating over 66% support, according to exit polls released after voting closed on June 1. The vote followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine and regional security shifts as Finland and Sweden pursued NATO membership.
The decision marks a significant shift for the traditionally eurosceptic Scandinavian nation, which has maintained separate defense policies since joining the EU in 1973. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized the need for closer European integration, stating, 'Even if Denmark is a fantastic country... we are still a small country, and too small to stand alone in a very, very insecure world.'
Exit polls indicated 'yes' votes ranged between 66-69% among 4.3 million eligible voters. The result comes after Frederiksen secured parliamentary backing for the referendum just weeks after Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The government also pledged to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2033, aligning with NATO targets.
Opposition leaders celebrated the outcome as a response to 'a burning Europe' and 'a different world.' However, critics argued the timing exploited wartime anxieties, with one voter stating, 'It pushes people toward a yes who would normally be more sceptical.'
Denmark's opt-out history includes rejecting the 1992 Maastricht Treaty before securing exemptions, and voting against the euro in 2000. The country has used its defense opt-out 235 times since 1993, according to the Europa think tank. Eleven of 14 parties supported the 'yes' campaign, while far-right and far-left groups warned of NATO-EU conflicts. The 1949 establishment of NATO remains central to Danish defense policy, even as the nation reevaluates its EU role following its 2015 rejection of enhanced security cooperation.
