Denmark votes to drop EU defence opt-out in 'historic' referendum

Danish political figures took part in a Yes campaign event in Copenhagen as the vote took place

Denmark has voted in a historic referendum to take part in EU security policy, scrapping its 30-year opt-out.

The vote will allow Danish troops to take part in EU military missions.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the move, which was approved by 66.9% of voters, sent "a very important signal" amid the conflict in Ukraine.

"We're showing, that when Putin invades a free country and threatens the stability in Europe, we others pull together," Ms Frederiksen said.

"When freedom knocks on Europe's door and it's war again on our continent, you cannot be neutral. We support Ukraine and the Ukrainian people," she added.

While the referendum received the highest proportion of yes votes ever, it also recorded the second-lowest turnout for a vote in Danish history, with just 65.8% of citizens casting a ballot.

While a member of Nato, Denmark negotiated a so-called defence reservation as part of its membership of the EU, allowing it to opt out of military missions.

But like its Nordic neighbours, Sweden and Finland, it has been reassessing its security policy since Russia launched its war on Ukraine.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the vote sent a "strong message of commitment to our common security," and that both Denmark and the EU would benefit.

Charles Michel, President of the European Council, also hailed the country's "historic choice" on Twitter.

Why this referendum matters

Danish leaders had argued the regional security situation has changed, and that called for Denmark to work more closely with the EU on defence issues.

"I believe with all my heart that we have to vote yes," Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said during a televised debate on Sunday. "At a time when we need to fight for security in Europe, we need to be more united with our neighbours."

But for that to happen this traditionally Eurosceptic nation needs a seat at the table.

For 30 years, the defence reservation has meant that Denmark played no part in most European defence and security initiatives.

Outside a polling station in Copenhagen, Peter Goodwin said he was very happy to vote yes: "I think it's important for Denmark to be a part of Europe. And I think in these terrible times we are in, it's important that we all stand in one boat and take one direction."

The Danish prime minister has spoken of the referendum as a historic decision in historic times

In practical terms the Danes are not invited to meetings, have little influence and cannot take part or finance any military operations. The EU is currently involved in several military missions and voting yes could mean taking part in at least two of them, in Bosnia-Herzegovina and off the coast of Somalia. Ultimately the decision would rest with MPs in Denmark's Folketing.

It would mean joining the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, and it would open the door to other security-related agencies. As Ms Frederiksen pointed out on the eve of the vote, Denmark is currently unable to work with its European allies on tackling cyber threats.

Nordic shift in defence policy

Within weeks of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Denmark embarked on a major policy shift. "Historical times call for historical decisions," the prime minister said at the time.

A huge boost to defence spending was agreed by parliament in March, with an extra $1bn set aside over the next two years. That would then rise to 2% of GDP by 2033, in line with Nato membership requirements. That was also when the referendum and plans to phase out Russian gas were announced.

The debate in Denmark is all part of a sweeping overhaul of security policy across the Nordic region.

Three out of 14 parties are backing a No vote but opinion polls favour a Yes vote

Sweden and Finland have decided to join Nato, ending decades of neutrality.

Denmark is a founding member of the military alliance, but it is currently weighing up allowing US or other foreign troops to be stationed on Danish territory.

Voter Jon Petersen told the BBC that while this decision had been rushed, Denmark should have scrapped its opt-out years ago: "We wouldn't have had this election if it wasn't for the crisis in Ukraine."

Copenhagen's move is understood to have been influenced by a change of course in neighbouring Germany, which has announced a huge hike in military spending.

"I think one should not underestimate the importance of Germany in Danish politics," said Kristian Soeby Kristensen of Copenhagen University's Centre for Military Studies. He sees the addition of German money adding considerable weight to the EU's defence engine.

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Why Denmark has been reluctant in EU

An EU member since 1973, Denmark has often shied away from further integration. And its defence reservation came about after Danes narrowly rejected the 1992 Maastricht Treaty on closer EU integration.

After securing opt-outs on justice, home affairs and the euro, Danes finally accepted the treaty a year later. While the UK was an EU member state, it also had the right to opt in or out of several fields including justice and home affairs policies.

According to think tank Europa, Denmark has used its defence opt-out 235 times over 28 years, but it's been invoked much more frequently in recent years. This is largely due to Europe's increasing number of security-related measures, particularly since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

Referendums in Denmark on EU-related issues have often ended in a no-vote and this is the ninth so far.

Danes rejected the euro in 2000 and still use the krone. More recently a 2015 referendum on dropping Denmark's judicial opt-out resulted in a no over worries about losing sovereignty on immigration.

Voting ends at 20:00 (18:00 GMT) and the result is expected before midnight.