And Denmark will rejoin the EU and its defense policy (Maj)

(BRUSSELS2 to Copenhagen) The Danish Minister for European Affairs, Nicolai Wammen, confirmed this during his introductory speech to European journalists visiting Copenhagen. The Danish government has every intention of lifting two of its three existing opt-outs: on defence, on the one hand; Justice and Home Affairs, on the other.

Full reintegration of European defence, partial justice/interior policy

Regarding defence, the minister confirmed it to B2, it will be a "total lifting of the opt-out". Clearly, Denmark is fully reintegrating the common European defense and security policy in terms of military operations - whether it concerns the decision-making process or its financing - or capacity building - in particular participation in the European Defense Agency. A "real reintegration" - which will therefore involve integrating Danish officers into the various defense structures of the European Union. A bit like how France reintegrated the NATO command structures. The lifting of this opt-out is the one that arouses the least discussion within Danish political parties, apart from the eurosceptics of the Dansk Folkeparti (the Danish people's party) which is "opposed to a European army" and "wants to preserve the fact that the Danish parliament gives permission for the sending of troops abroad”. “A question of responsibility” according to MP Pia Adelsteen (*). As Jens Joel, Social Democrat MEP, member of the European Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, pointed out on 10 January, there is a sort of " inconsistency today. Why the Norwegians - who are not members of the European Union - can take part in an EU anti-piracy operation and the Danes cannot. This needs to be corrected”.

Regarding justice and foreign affairs policy, the lifting of the opt-out will be lighter; it is a question of replacing the opt-out (total derogation) by an opt-in: Denmark expressing at each decision its wish, or not, to participate in it and to accept its implications (according to the same status as has Ireland or the United Kingdom today).

Only opt-out that Denmark does not intend to leave: that on the Euro. There is no question of it, specified the Minister for European Affairs. " It's the improbable referendum added his colleague from Foreign Affairs. Even the liberal socialist party which militates in favor of the Euro, recognized that joining the Euro was not currently possible, explained Sofie Carsten Nielsen of the social-liberal party (member of the coalition in power).

When ? at the end of the presidency

Nothing has yet decided on when exactly this will happen and in what form - one or two referendums... What is certain is that this is a commitment that is included in the program of the social-liberal/social coalition -democrat/socialist. And that this reintegration will not take place during the Danish presidency of the EU which started from January 1 and lasts until June 30, 2012. If the presidency goes well, and we are in a good mood at European level, the lifting of opt-outs could occur in the wake of the presidency a Danish official told B2.

(Updated: Tuesday 10 January with remarks by parliamentarians from the European Affairs Committee of the Danish Parliament)

(*) It can be emphasized that participation in the PeSDC never prevents authorization by the national parliament. Dutch and German practices prove this.