For the Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, “there was a Europe before February 24, before the Russian invasion and there is a Europe after”.
It must be said that his country has just made a first major change in its position vis-à-vis Brussels.
An overwhelming majority of Danes, almost 67%, voted on Wednesday in favor of joining EU defense policy, according to a count of 99% of the ballots.
“Tonight, Denmark sent an important signal.
To our allies in Europe and NATO, and to (President Vladimir) Putin.
We show that when Putin invades a free country and threatens stability in Europe, the rest of us come together,” Mette Frederiksen told supporters.
Two weeks after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the Prime Minister had announced an agreement with most parties in Parliament to submit the end of the Danish exception to a referendum, as well as significant military investments to overcome the bar of 2% of the GDP devoted to the defense budget desired by NATO.
A traditionally Eurosceptic country, Denmark obtained a series of exceptions in 1993, called “opt outs” on several European issues, particularly in the area of defence.
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