Denmark is the only EU country that does not participate in European defense policy, and is therefore absent from EU military missions. The Russian invasion of Ukraine apparently changed the country’s mind, observers say.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was happy that the majority voted yes. “The fact that so many people have voted for it is a vote of confidence. It is a strong signal to our allies in Europe and from NATO and to Putin. Denmark can now participate in European defense and security cooperation and I am very happy about that.”
‘Historical choice’
Danish People’s Party leader Morten Messerschmidt says proponents of European defense policy participation have used the war in Ukraine to get their way. “This has given the Danes the feeling that we have to stand together with Europe,” he told television channel TV2.
The reason Denmark did not participate in the policy is because the Danes narrowly rejected the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. In order to get Denmark on board, the EU was granted a number of exceptional positions, including with regard to the euro and the joint justice policy.
European Union leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel called it a “historic choice.” On Twitter, European Commission President von der Leyen wrote that it was a “strong message of commitment to our common security.”