Today is ‘Ja’ or ‘Nej’ day for Danes

Danes head to polls to vote on EU justice opt-out

Danes will be hitting the polling stations today to vote on the referendum regarding the EU justice opt-out.

If Danes vote to scrap the opt-out, they will effectively opt in to adopting 22 piece of EU legislation in the area of justice and internal issues, while remaining a member of the co-operative EU policing effort, Europol.

“It’s extremely important that Denmark remains a full member of Europol so we can continue to help fight serious crime across borders,” said Søren Pind, the justice minister. “Danes face a huge and important decision.”

Despite the vote only being open to Danish citizens, a number of internationals have contacted the Copenhagen Post over the last 24 hours to report they have been erroneously reminded by Copenhagen Municipality to vote in today’s referendum.

Outcome still uncertain
Early polls indicated that those voting ‘yes’ had a commanding lead, but that has mostly disappeared in recent days, and it is expected to be a tight race. As many as a fifth of those voting are expected to make up their mind on the day.

In December 2014, the government at the time cut a deal with members of Venstre, SF and Konservative to put Danmark’s opt-out on EU justice policy regulations to a vote.

Back then, they announced that a vote would take place in the first quarter of 2016, but the new government announced the vote had been moved to the end of this year.

In 1992, Denmark was granted four opt-outs in the areas of defence policy, justice, home affairs and the single currency following the Danish no-vote to the Maastricht Treaty. The opt-outs are laid out in the Edinburgh agreement and cannot be changed without Danish consent.

A ‘Yes’ vote would allow Denmark to remain part of the co-operative EU policing effort Europol.

READ MORE: Europol exit will affect trafficking of women, according to NGO

Nothing in today’s vote suggests that any of the parties are ready to have Denmark involved in a common European refugee and asylum policy.


 

Check out this week’s Weekly Post newspaper, out today, for more in-depth analysis on the subject.




  • Today is 10 years from Copenhagen terrorist attack

    Today is 10 years from Copenhagen terrorist attack

    On February 14 and 15, the last terrorist attack took place in Denmark. Another episode occurred in 2022, but in that case, there was no political motive behind it

  • Enter Christiania: how the Freetown works

    Enter Christiania: how the Freetown works

    We all know Christiania and have been there at least once. But how does the Freetown work? How are decisions made? Can a person move there? Is there rent or bills to pay? British journalist Dave Wood wrote a reportage on Christiania for The Copenhagen Post.

  • The struggles of Asian women in Denmark’s labour market

    The struggles of Asian women in Denmark’s labour market

    Isha Thapa unfolds her research “An Analysis on the Inclusivity and Integration of South Asian Women in High-Skilled Jobs within the Danish Labor Market”. Thapa describes the systemic and social challenges these women face, ranging from barriers in social capital to cultural integration.

  • Parents in Denmark reject social media monitoring 

    Parents in Denmark reject social media monitoring 

    Most parents in Denmark reject using social media parental controls despite knowing about them. A new study questions the effectiveness of these tools in ensuring children’s online safety.

  • Analysis: we need a different education system for international children in Denmark

    Analysis: we need a different education system for international children in Denmark

    Data analyst Kelly Draper Rasmussen highlights that Denmark sees peaks in international migration during early childhood and high school years. However, with only one international education option, many families are forced to leave to secure different opportunities for their children.

  • Danish Refugee Council to lay off up to 2,000 staff

    Danish Refugee Council to lay off up to 2,000 staff

    After the anticipation from The Copenhagen Post, a press release by DRC has confirmed the plan to lay off thousands of employees in response to the recent halt of foreign aid spending by the Trump administration.