2015 Danish European Union opt-out referendum

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3 December 2015

Proposed Law to change the justice opt-out to a case-by-case opt-in.[n 1][1]
Results
Choice
Votes %
Yes 1,375,862 46.89%
No 1,558,437 53.11%
Valid votes 2,934,299 98.13%
Invalid or blank votes 55,962 1.87%
Total votes 2,990,261 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 4,153,041 72%

Results by electoral district
Source: Statistics Denmark[2]
Election posters in Copenhagen

A referendum on one of the country's opt-outs from the European Union was held in Denmark on 3 December 2015. Specifically, the referendum was on whether to convert Denmark's current full opt-out on home and justice matters into an opt-out with case-by-case opt-in similar to those held by Ireland and the United Kingdom. Approval of the referendum was needed for Denmark to remain in Europol under the new rules. However, it was rejected by 53% of voters.

Background

After Danish voters rejected the Maastricht Treaty in a 1992 referendum, the Edinburgh Agreement that was reached granted four exceptions to Denmark, one of which concerning Justice and Home Affairs. The Danish people subsequently approved the Maastricht Treaty in a 1993 referendum.

Several Danish governments had considered holding a referendum on abolishing certain opt-outs. When it became clear that, under new rules, Denmark would have to leave Europol due to its full opt-out, the two main political parties agreed to hold a referendum after the 2015 general election. The second Lars Løkke Rasmussen government that was formed following the election subsequently decided on 21 August 2015 to hold a referendum on 3 December.[3]

Consequences in legislation

List of legislation

The following are EU-laws affected by the opt-outs, that the proponents wanted to opt into:[4]

Police and criminal law
  • Directive 2014/41/EU, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Direktivet om den europæiske efterforskningskendelse i straffesager, regarding the European Investigation Order in criminal matters
  • Directive 2011/99/EU (de), EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Direktivet om den europæiske beskyttelsesordre, regarding the European protection order
  • Regulation 606/2013 (de), EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Forordningen om den civilretlige beskyttelsesordre, regarding the European protection order
  • Directive 2011/36/EU (de), EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, Menneskehandelsdirektivet, regarding preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims
  • Directive 2011/92/EU, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-10 at the Wayback Machine, Direktivet om seksuelt misbrug af børn, regarding combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography
  • Directive 2013/40/EU, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, Cybercrimedirektivet, regarding attacks against information systems
  • Directive 2014/57/EU, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, Direktivet om markedsmisbrug, regarding criminal sanctions for market abuse
  • Directive 2014/62/EU, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Direktivet om falskmøntneri, regarding the protection of the euro and other currencies against counterfeiting by criminal law
Civil law and commercial law
  • Regulation 1346/2000 (de), EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, Konkursforordningen, regarding insolvency proceedings
  • Regulation 1206/2001, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, Bevisoptagelsesforordningen, regarding cooperation between the courts of the Member States in the taking of evidence in civil or commercial matters
  • Regulation 1896/2006, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Betalingspåkravsforordningen, creating a European order for payment procedure
  • Regulation 861/2007, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Småkravsforordningen, establishing a European Small Claims Procedure
  • Regulation 805/2004, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, Forordningen om indførelse af et europæisk tvangsfuldbyrdelsesdokument for ubestridte krav, creating a European Enforcement Order for uncontested claims
  • Directive 2008/52/EC (de), EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, Mæglingsdirektivet, regarding mediation in civil and commercial matters
  • Regulation 593/2008, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2019-06-08 at the Wayback Machine, Rom I-forordningen om lovvalg inden for kontrakt
  • Regulation 864/2007, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Rom II-forordningen om lovvalg uden for kontrakt
  • Regulation 662/2009, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2019-06-08 at the Wayback Machine, Forordningen om bilaterale aftaler om lovvalgsregler, establishing a procedure for the negotiation and conclusion of agreements between Member States and third countries on particular matters concerning the law applicable to contractual and non-contractual obligations
  • Regulation 655/2014, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Kontosikringsforordningen, establishing a European Account Preservation Order procedure to facilitate cross-border debt recovery in civil and commercial matters
Family law
  • Regulation 650/2012 (de), EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, Arveretsforordningen, regarding jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and acceptance and enforcement of authentic instruments in matters of succession and on the creation of a European Certificate of Succession
  • Regulation 2201/2003, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, Bruxelles IIa-forordningen, regarding jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility
  • Regulation 4/2009, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Underholdspligtsforordningen, regarding jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and cooperation in matters relating to maintenance obligations
  • Regulation 664/2009, EUR-lex, eu.dk Archived 2015-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, Forordningen om bilaterale familieretlige aftaler, establishing a procedure for the negotiation and conclusion of agreements between Member States and third countries concerning jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments and decisions in matrimonial matters, matters of parental responsibility and matters relating to maintenance obligations, and the law applicable to matters relating to maintenance obligations
Proposals

Campaign

A "yes" vote was supported by the governing Venstre, the Social Democrats, the Conservative People's Party, The Alternative, the Social Liberal Party and the Socialist People's Party. A "no" vote was supported by the Danish People's Party, the Liberal Alliance, the Red–Green Alliance, the People's Movement against the EU and the Young Conservatives.

Opinion polls

Date(s) Polling agency Sample For Against Undecided Lead
1–2 December 2015 Megafon/TV2 1,927 39.4% 42.2% 18.4% 2.8%
30 November–1 December 2015 Gallup/Berlingske 1,630 37% 42% 21% 5%
25 November–1 December 2015 Wilke/Jyllandsposten 2,000 37.4% 41.1% 21.5% 3.7%
22–30 November 2015 Epinion/DR 2,778 32% 36% 31% 4%
26–29 November 2015 Megafon/TV2 1,000 35% 40% 25% 5%
25–26 November 2015 Gallup/Berlingske 1,035 34% 38% 25% 4%
20–23 November 2015 Megafon/TV2 1,031 39% 38% 23% 1%
18–23 November 2015 Norstat/Altinget 1,002 34% 41% 25% 7%
16–22 November 2015 Epinion/DR 2,373 32% 29% 34% 3%
November 2015 Voxmeter/Ritzau 1,009 34.8% 32.1% 33.1% 2.7%
November 2015 Voxmeter/Ritzau 1,010 33.0% 30.5% 36.5% 2.5%
November 2015 Voxmeter/Ritzau 1,005 26.8% 30.4% 42.7% 3.6%
26–28 October 2015 Megafon/Politiken ca. 1,000 32% 28% 40% 4%
22–26 October 2015 Norstat/Altinget 1,000 31% 37% 33% 6%
14–21 October 2015 Epinion/DR Nyheder 1,005 29% 28% 39% 1%
September 2015 Voxmeter/Ritzau Archived 2015-10-11 at the Wayback Machine 1,009 26% 37% 36% 9%
21–24 September 2015 Megafon/Politiken ca. 1,000 41% 32% 27% 9%
16–21 September 2015 Norstat/Altinget 1,001 31% 36% 33% 5%
24–26 August 2015 Megafon/Politiken ca. 1,000 41% 27% 33% 14%
21–24 August 2015 Norstat/Altinget 1,000 34% 33% 32% 1%
June 2015 Norstat/Altinget ca. 1,000 38% 31% 31% 7%
May 2015 Norstat/Altinget ca. 1,000 40% 30% 30% 10%
April 2015 Norstat/Altinget ca. 1,000 36% 29% 34% 7%
12–17 March 2015 Norstat/Altinget 1,001 38% 27% 35% 11%
3 February 2015 Norstat/Altinget ca. 1,000 39% 27% 34% 12%
12 January 2015 ukendt/Børsen ca. 1,000 43% 41% 16% 2%
January 2015 Norstat/Altinget ca. 1,000 39% 27% 34% 12%

Results

Results by electoral district
  No
  Yes
Choice Votes %
For 1,375,862 46.89
Against 1,558,437 53.11
Invalid/blank votes 55,962
Total 2,990,261 100
Registered voters/turnout 4,153,041 72.00
Source: Statistics Denmark[2]
Results by constituency
District Yes No Valid Blank Invalid Total
Votes % Votes %
Capital Region 442,179 50.4 435,348 49.6 877,527 15,674 2,587 895,788
Copenhagen 176,085 50.3 174,291 49.7 350,376 8,202 1,286 359,864
1. Østerbro 21,103 56.4 16,294 43.6 37,397 851 136 38,384
2. Sundbyvester 14,321 49.0 14,927 51.0 29,248 634 110 29,992
3. Indre By 15,964 58.4 11,381 41.6 27,345 611 88 28,044
4. Sundbyøster 11,263 44.6 13,986 55.4 25,249 572 118 25,939
5. Nørrebro 18,355 49.8 18,527 50.2 36,882 1,305 154 38,341
6. Bispebjerg 9,239 42.3 12,599 57.7 21,838 580 109 22,527
7. Brønshøj 17,239 47.5 19,085 52.5 36,324 738 156 37,218
8. Valby 10,852 45.8 12,830 54.2 23,682 567 83 24,332
9. Vesterbro 14,468 50.1 14,411 49.9 28,879 823 116 29,818
10. Falkoner 16,821 60.5 11,002 39.5 27,823 625 69 28,517
11. Slots 14,327 55.2 11,628 44.8 25,955 543 85 26,583
12. Tårnby 12,133 40.8 17,621 59.2 29,754 353 62 30,169
Copenhagen Surrounding Areas 124,928 48.2 134,156 51.8 259,084 3,748 619 263,451
1. Gentofte 25,149 65.9 13,016 34.1 38,165 527 123 38,815
2. Lyngby 17,511 60.8 11,279 39.2 28,790 490 94 29,374
3. Gladsaxe 15,905 48.9 16,589 51.1 32,494 580 54 33,128
4. Rødovre 13,719 42.6 18,466 57.4 32,185 499 70 32,754
5. Hvidovre 9,897 39.1 15,391 60.9 25,288 334 38 25,660
6. Brøndby 12,753 40.9 18,443 59.1 31,196 342 66 31,604
7. Taastrup 14,767 42.1 20,294 57.9 35,061 485 93 35,639
8. Ballerup 15,227 42.4 20,678 57.6 35,905 491 81 36,477
North Zealand 131,228 53.3 115,130 46.7 246,358 3,329 596 250,283
1. Helsingør 15,438 47.9 16,814 52.1 32,252 467 106 32,825
2. Fredensborg 20,905 60.1 13,901 39.9 34,806 396 47 35,249
3. Hillerød 24,256 49.4 24,883 50.6 49,139 719 134 49,992
4. Frederikssund 17,403 42.6 23,404 57.4 40,807 496 107 41,410
5. Egedal 24,756 55.1 20,150 44.9 44,906 645 96 45,647
6. Rudersdal 28,470 64.1 15,978 35.9 44,448 606 106 45,160
Bornholm 9,938 45.8 11,771 54.2 21,709 395 86 22,190
1. Rønne 4,936 46.8 5,621 53.2 10,557 204 49 10,810
2. Aakirkeby 5,002 44.9 6,150 55.1 11,152 191 37 11,380
Zealand and South Denmark Region 478,225 44.3 601,656 55.7 1,079,881 15,605 2,963 1,098,449
Zealand 191,179 43.0 252,984 57.0 444,163 5,777 1,101 451,041
1. Lolland 8,289 36.3 14,577 63.7 22,866 249 79 23,194
2. Guldborgsund 13,646 40.4 20,093 59.6 33,739 426 94 34,259
3. Vordingborg 10,779 41.5 15,177 58.5 25,956 336 72 26,364
4. Næstved 18,613 42.4 25,269 57.6 43,882 586 111 44,579
5. Faxe 12,957 40.8 18,794 59.2 31,751 379 78 32,208
6. Køge 21,260 45.4 25,545 54.6 46,805 656 88 47,549
7. Greve 17,700 46.9 20,041 53.1 37,741 409 101 38,251
8. Roskilde 23,885 51.9 22,157 48.1 46,042 829 111 46,982
9. Holbæk 15,825 43.3 20,724 56.7 36,549 453 101 37,103
10. Kalundborg 17,400 38.7 27,582 61.3 44,982 516 114 45,612
11. Ringsted 14,490 43.5 18,836 56.5 33,326 477 87 33,890
12. Slagelse 16,335 40.3 24,189 59.7 40,524 461 65 41,050
Funen 120,588 45.9 141,942 54.1 262,530 4,570 801 267,901
1. Odense Øst 14,779 44.9 18,159 55.1 32,938 749 116 33,803
2. Odense Vest 13,938 45.7 16,594 54.3 30,532 581 112 31,225
3. Odense Syd 19,258 52.5 17,428 47.5 36,686 731 141 37,558
4. Assens 10,246 44.8 12,646 55.2 22,892 355 57 23,304
5. Middelfart 17,315 46.8 19,716 53.2 37,031 534 75 37,640
6. Nyborg 13,713 44.1 17,374 55.9 31,087 466 92 31,645
7. Svendborg 16,652 42.5 22,542 57.5 39,194 667 111 39,972
8. Faaborg 14,687 45.7 17,483 54.3 32,170 487 97 32,754
South Jutland 166,458 44.6 206,730 55.4 373,188 5,258 1,061 379,507
1. Sønderborg 17,489 44.4 21,904 55.6 39,393 519 114 40,026
2. Aabenraa 13,561 44.6 16,860 55.4 30,421 386 78 30,885
3. Tønder 8,885 44.5 11,080 55.5 19,965 314 59 20,338
4. Esbjerg By 12,376 38.1 20,118 61.9 32,494 464 111 33,069
5. Esbjerg Omegn 12,940 45.1 15,742 54.9 28,682 372 68 29,122
6. Varde 12,506 47.3 13,937 52.7 26,443 367 53 26,863
7. Vejen 16,146 45.0 19,742 55.0 35,888 479 122 36,489
8. Vejle Nord 13,799 49.2 14,252 50.8 28,051 492 78 28,621
9. Vejle Syd 13,401 46.1 15,678 53.9 29,079 488 109 29,676
10. Fredericia 10,838 41.0 15,582 59.0 26,420 308 62 26,790
11. Kolding Nord 10,794 49.5 11,022 50.5 21,816 298 60 22,174
12. Kolding Syd 10,702 43.7 13,792 56.3 24,494 307 58 24,859
13. Haderslev 13,021 43.3 17,021 56.7 30,042 464 89 30,595
Mid and North Jutland Region 455,458 46.6 521,433 53.4 976,891 16,937 2,196 996,024
East Jutland 194,320 48.2 208,665 51.8 402,985 7,947 958 411,890
1. Århus Syd 22,925 54.7 18,989 45.3 41,914 994 105 43,013
2. Århus Vest 19,077 48.6 20,148 51.4 39,225 849 99 40,173
3. Århus Nord 21,280 50.8 20,605 49.2 41,885 1,154 107 43,146
4. Århus Øst 26,734 56.8 20,307 43.2 47,041 1,332 135 48,508
5. Djurs 18,159 42.8 24,222 57.2 42,381 594 80 43,055
6. Randers Nord 9,693 40.1 14,496 59.9 24,189 295 56 24,540
7. Randers Syd 10,884 42.5 14,740 57.5 25,624 369 53 26,046
8. Favrskov 12,306 48.3 13,149 51.7 25,455 460 55 25,970
9. Skanderborg 23,967 51.8 22,273 48.2 46,240 852 76 47,168
10. Horsens 18,395 41.9 25,533 58.1 43,928 675 117 44,720
11. Hedensted 10,900 43.4 14,203 56.6 25,103 373 75 25,551
West Jutland 131,936 48.5 139,993 51.5 271,929 4,341 600 276,870
1. Struer 10,984 45.2 13,336 54.8 24,320 335 37 24,692
2. Skive 11,311 45.6 13,470 54.4 24,781 373 63 25,217
3. Viborg Vest 12,634 49.5 12,913 50.5 25,547 432 61 26,040
4. Viborg Øst 11,707 50.9 11,290 49.1 22,997 346 60 23,403
5. Silkeborg Nord 11,123 47.1 12,479 52.9 23,602 361 48 24,011
6. Silkeborg Syd 12,658 51.3 12,013 48.7 24,671 429 66 25,166
7. Ikast 9,271 45.3 11,196 54.7 20,467 338 47 20,852
8. Herning Syd 9,905 47.2 11,086 52.8 20,991 339 60 21,390
9. Herning Nord 11,997 50.2 11,920 49.8 23,917 362 39 24,318
10. Holstebro 15,383 49.3 15,826 50.7 31,209 563 63 31,835
11. Ringkøbing 14,963 50.8 14,464 49.2 29,427 463 56 29,946
North Jutland 129,202 42.8 172,775 57.2 301,977 4,649 638 307,264
1. Frederikshavn 12,384 37.5 20,674 62.5 33,058 393 75 33,526
2. Hjørring 14,269 42.5 19,325 57.5 33,594 503 88 34,185
3. Brønderslev 16,328 41.5 23,022 58.5 39,350 529 81 39,960
4. Thisted 15,167 44.6 18,845 55.4 34,012 527 71 34,610
5. Himmerland 15,516 45.5 18,608 54.5 34,124 517 53 34,694
6. Mariagerfjord 9,464 42.7 12,687 57.3 22,151 298 37 22,486
7. Aalborg Øst 16,666 41.7 23,275 58.3 39,941 743 84 40,768
8. Aalborg Vest 15,759 47.6 17,371 52.4 33,130 561 62 33,753
9. Aalborg Nord 13,649 41.8 18,968 58.2 32,617 578 87 33,282
Denmark 1,375,862 46.9 1,558,437 53.1 2,934,299 48,216 7,746 2,990,261
Source: Danmarks Statistik

Footnotes

  1. ^ The ballot question was the name of the proposal.

References

  1. ^ "Forslag til Lov om omdannelse af retsforbeholdet til en tilvalgsordning". retsinformation.dk. Department of Civil Affairs. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Folkeafstemning torsdag 3. december 2015: Resultater - Foreløbig opgørelse af valgresultat". dst.dk (in Danish). Statistics Denmark. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  3. ^ "Denmark to vote on Justice and Home Affairs opt-in model on 3 December". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. 2015-08-21. Archived from the original on 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2015-08-21.
  4. ^ "Statsministeriet - Aftale om tilvalg af retsakter på området for retlige og indre anliggender". Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
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