Brussels, 17/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The Danish government still envisages getting rid of the four “opt-outs” negotiated before the ratification of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 (euro, defence, justice and home affairs, citizenship) and may organise a single referendum on the four subjects in 2010 on the condition that the Lisbon Treaty enters into force before the end of the year. On Tuesday, a high-ranking Danish official informed a small group of journalists in Brussels that “if the Lisbon Treaty enters into force by the end of this year, then I would not exclude - but nothing has been decided yet - that there will be a referendum in 2010”. The Danish official explained that the current economic and financial crisis had demonstrated the important anchoring role of the euro, which would facilitate the task of the government in convincing citizens to vote in favour of derogations, particularly participation in the single currency. Our source explained: “Before we could not always prove what we said about Denmark's interest of being in the eurozone. Now we can”. The Danish government initially envisaged holding a referendum in September 2008 but the Irish “no” vote on the Lisbon Treaty and the crisis put a stop to these plans.
Commission president. The same Danish source also said that it was “likely” that the European Council would already take a “political” decision in June on the president of the European Commission (who could then begin consultations with member states for setting up his team) but the “legal” decision on his appointment would only be taken once the Lisbon Treaty was in force. With regard to the European Parliament's wish to be consulted before the choice of the Commission president is made, the Danish diplomat said that it would be possible to organise this consultation between the European elections of 7 June and the European Council programmed for 18-19 June. (H.B./transl.rh)