COPENHAGEN, Denmark (CN) — In 1992, Danes voted against the Maastricht Treaty, which established the European Union. Instead, the Danish Parliament suggested joining the treaty with several significant reservations as a compromise.
Denmark joined the bloc but kept its own currency, maintained a line between Danish national citizenship and EU citizenship, and opted out of EU justice, police and defense policies. The latter means that Denmark does not contribute soldiers, financing and equipment for EU-led military operations abroad.
For example, Denmark has neither contributed to the EU´s naval efforts to control migrants and refugees in the Mediterranean Sea nor participated in army training in Somalia and Mozambique.
The only EU-related defense efforts from the Danish government have involved sending police on civilian missions for peacekeeping purposes. Otherwise, the small Nordic country has abstained from 11 EU operations in global hotspots, mainly on the African continent.
But now, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the defense reservation has been put up for a new referendum. On June 1, Danish citizens will vote on whether to lift the 30-year-old military opt-out.
In March, the Danish government announced an agreement on an updated national security policy. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized how she wishes to go all-in on the defense collaboration with the EU.
“For me, as prime minister, it is a value-based decision to join the collaboration without reservation,” she said.
The defense reservation is heavily debated in the Danish public and media. Political opponents of lifting it have warned of the prospect of an EU army and how Denmark can become an involuntary pawn in large military operations caused by strategic considerations of bigger EU member states, such as France.
But supporters argue that time has come for Denmark to take responsibility for security in Europe and abroad. Collective European military efforts are an important supplement to NATO in a time of increased uncertainty after Russia´s invasion of Ukraine, they say.
Many Danish voters still feel uncertain about joining the EU defense pact, wondering about the consequences of dropping the country's reservation and which areas Denmark stills holds sovereignty in when it comes to decisions on military intervention.
Courthouse News asked Henrik Larsen, professor of Danish foreign affairs and European politics at Copenhagen University, about the implications of the vote.
“A lifting of the referendum will mean two things – that Denmark gets a say in EU´s military interventions and can put a veto on certain operations, and that we can choose to participate or not,” he said.
Larsen noted that the outcome of next Wednesday's vote is less important for Europe since Denmark is a small member state who would contribute with limited resources. Still, it symbolizes a significant move toward a more active Danish-European political environment and opens the door for collaboration.
One example is that Denmark would be able to join the European fleet outside the Horn of Africa in protecting ships from pirates. Currently, Denmark only coordinates with the United States and NATO.
“I consider the probability of Denmark being forced to participate in unwanted EU operations quite unlikely,” Larsen said. He explained that defense decisions would always have to pass through the Danish Parliament for approval and that any forced participation goes directly against EU treaties.
When asked about the potential impact on the war in Ukraine if Danes were to enter the European security and defense system now, Larsen said the EU "does not have much to do with the current war in Ukraine, as NATO is in charge."
"However, the situation can foster closer collaboration between the member states, especially if Russia remains a threat," he said. "But for now, the importance of EU´s security operations plays a bigger role in political argumentation than in the actual war.”
The share of Danish voters who support joining the EU defense pact has grown to 42%, according to a survey conducted last week by DR, the national Danish broadcasting corporation. Twenty-eight percent of Danes are opposed to lifting the country's defense reservation while 22% are undecided.
Courthouse News correspondent Mie Olsen is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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