Danes rejected in a referendum Thursday a government proposal to deepen the EU member's participation in the bloc's justice cooperation, Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said.
"It is a clear no... I have full respect for the Danes' decision," he said at a press conference, after campaigning for the 'Yes' side which had advocated for international coordination in the fight against cross-border crime, including violent extremism.
The 'No' camp was led by the anti-EU, anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DPP) which believes dropping Denmark's justice opt-out would have given too much power to Brussels and risked leading to more immigration.
"It is my clear impression that it's not so much what we have voted about that the Danes have turned their backs on, but perhaps what we haven't voted on," Rasmussen said.
The result reflected "insecurity and uncertainty" over the consequences of a 'Yes' vote and "maybe also general EU scepticism and a host of other things, but not a 'No' to giving Danish police the sharpest tools in the battle against cross-border crime," he said.
Denmark does not fully participate in the EU's justice and home affairs policies after Danish voters -- wary of the "ever closer union" -- rejected the Maastricht Treaty in 1992.
Copenhagen was then granted opt-outs on several EU policy areas, including justice, and Danes said 'Yes' to Maastricht in 1993.
Source: AFP
GMT 08:10 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Kurds invited to join Syria peaceGMT 08:13 2018 Monday ,22 January
West's 'Russiaphobia' worse thanGMT 06:50 2018 Sunday ,21 January
Brexit special trade agreement possibleGMT 11:44 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Can govern from BelgiumGMT 06:30 2018 Friday ,19 January
Wall idea not 'informed'GMT 06:04 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Netanyahu: US embassy could moveGMT 08:06 2018 Wednesday ,17 January
Iran should listen to demandsGMT 07:55 2018 Tuesday ,16 January
Destroy US-backed Syria 'terror army'Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©