Danes looked set to reject adopting certain European Union rules on Thursday in a referendum that tested for the first time in 15 years whether the nation wants to integrate further with the 28-member bloc or continue to keep its distance.
In a vote watched by British politicians, who are locked in battle concerning the future of that country’s own ties to the EU, Danes were asked to entrust parliament to opt in to some justice and home affairs rules to help fight cross-border crime.
Exit polls, released minutes after voting had finished at 1900 GMT, showed 52.8 percent voted against the proposals according to the TV2 news station, while the DR station said 53.3 percent voted against them.
Denmark, Britain and Ireland all won various concessions from the EU in the early 1990s when the modern foundation for the now 28-member bloc was laid, including exemptions from rules governing EU justice and home affairs policies.
The populist Danish People’s Party (DF), now the second-largest faction in parliament, urged Danes to vote “No” to retain a hard-fought-for exemption won in 1993 and avoid giving away sovereignty over security to eurocrats in Brussels.
A “No” victory would cheer Britain’s anti-EU UK Independence Party, which wants a total withdrawal from the EU. But British Prime Minister David Cameron could point to it as a sign other nations are also unhappy with the EU as it stands. He is trying to renegotiate Britain’s relations with the EU, before holding a referendum by 2017 on whether to remain a member.
Analysts said the “Yes” campaign has been lacklustre while the “No” side had a much simpler message of rejection.
“I think it’s important we don’t give up our sovereignty,” said 25-year-old “No” voter Lea Sommer Holmberg at Copenhagen’s city hall. “It’s important power stays with the people so politicians cannot just do what they want.” Others point to the size of the Nordic country of 5.5 million people, meaning it needs the shelter of Europe.
“Denmark is a small and lovely country and we need to take care of its best interests. And because we are a small country, we need some bigger friends,” said Steen Boring, a man in his 60s who voted “Yes” as polls opened at Copenhagen’s city hall.
The vote comes amid heightened security fears across Europe after 130 people were killed in Paris in attacks claimed by Islamic State militants, and as Europe struggles with a huge influx of refugees from Syria and other countries.
Denmark needs to adopt some EU rules because of reform of Europol will change the way it receives and analyses data. The ruling centre-right Liberals, ex-ruling Social Democrats, and several other parties agreed on 22 EU laws that Denmark would opt into if the vote is “Yes”.
All have stressed the acts do not concern immigration, another part of the justice and home affairs policy from which Denmark is exempt. That means it does not, for example, have to participate in schemes to resettle refugees.
