Denmark Rejects Closer EU Ties as Skeptics Dominate Referendum
- Government had campaigned in favor of dropping justice opt-out
- Vote marks last major test of EU popularity before U.K. talks
The result “is based on a general skepticism toward the EU,” said Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen.
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Danes voted to keep their distance from the European Union, marking a blow to Brussels before heads of government meet to discuss British demands for a renegotiated relationship with the 28-member bloc.
Denmark will preserve an opt-out from EU justice and home affairs laws as 53 percent of voters favored the status quo, while 47 percent backed a shift to a flexible opt-in. Both the ruling Liberals and the largest opposition party, the Social Democrats, had campaigned for closer ties.