Denmark votes overwhelmingly for European defense policy integration

Almost 67% of Danes voted “yes” in a referendum held on Wednesday. A decision deemed “historic” by European officials.

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It’s a yes”. An overwhelming majority of Danes, almost 67%, voted in a referendum on Wednesday (June 1st) in favor of joining the defense policy of the European Union, according to the count of 99% of the ballots. EU leaders, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, welcomed a vote “historical” of Denmark on an entry into European defence.

“Denmark tonight sent an important signal. To our allies in Europe and NATO, and to (President Vladimir) Putin.We show that when Putin invades a free country and threatens stability in Europe, the rest of us come together”, said Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, put Frederiksen had announced an agreement with most of the parties in Parliament to submit the end of the Danish exception to a referendum, as well as significant military investments to cross the bar of 2% of GDP devoted to the defense budget desired by the ‘NATO.

A traditionally Eurosceptic country, Denmark obtained in 1993 a series of exceptions, called “opt outs” (opt outs) on several European issues, particularly in the area of ​​defence. The Scandinavian country, a founding member of NATO, was thus unable to participate in any EU military mission.


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