Brussels, 03/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - The Danes went to the polls in a referendum on Thursday 3 December on their country's participation in European justice and home affairs policies.
The vote had been planned for 2016 but was brought forward to avoid any interference with the referendum planned by the United Kingdom between now and the end of 2017, AFP reports.
Turnout was expected to be low. According to the latest opinion polls, the “yes” and “no” camps are neck and neck, though the “no” vote holds a slight lead, 42% to 39%. Five parties, including the Liberal Venstre, which is in power, and the main opposition party, the Social Democrats, have campaigned for a “yes” vote, while the Eurosceptical Danish People's Party (Dansk Folkeparti, DF) want a “no”, campaigning on the slogan: “More of the EU? No thanks”.
If the Danish people votes for the changes, Denmark will have a right to the traditional opt-in and opt-out, and be able to choose policies on a case-by-case basis, just like the United Kingdom and Ireland. If the current system, which dates from 1992, is retained, Denmark will not be able to choose which policies it joins.
The referendum came about, inter alia, because of fears in previous governments of being locked out of Europol, the police cooperation agency. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)