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Denmark - EU Policy

In a referendum on 1 June 2022, Danish voters supported Denmark joining the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy ending the country’s 30-year-long opt-out on EU’s defence cooperation. Denmark joined the European cooperation on security and defence on 01 July 2022 with the abolition of the Danish EU defence opt-out. As a result, Denmark can now choose to contribute to EU’s military missions and operations as well as apply for participation in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in the area of security and defence and the European Defence Agency (EDA).

The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) forms an integral part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Through the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, EU Member States can jointly launch civilian and military operations that contribute to crisis management, conflict prevention and peacekeeping missions outside the borders of the EU. The EU does not have its own military forces. It is up to the individual Member States to make civilian and military capabilities available to the Union for the implementation of the common security and defence policy.

In 2016, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security of the EU presented the EU Global Strategy (EUGS), which sets the framework for strengthened security and defence policy cooperation. Since then, a number of significant security and defence initiatives have been launched. Among the most significant are the European Defence Fund (EDF), the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and the European Peace Facility (EPF).

In March 2022, the EU Foreign and Defence Ministers adopted a new strategy for EU security and defence for the coming decade - the so-called ‘Strategic Compass’. The compass is divided into four core sections on crisis management, resilience, capabilities and partnerships. The most prominent elements of the Compass are the establishment of an EU rapid deployment capability of 5,000 people to respond quickly to crises, the creation of a hybrid toolbox and closer EU-NATO cooperation. In the process, Denmark has been particularly active in areas such as hybrid and cyber, maritime security, climate security and strengthened EU-NATO cooperation within the limitations of the defence opt-out that was in force during negotiations of the Compass.

A large part of the Union’s defence cooperation relates to broader policy areas, like research, industrial cooperation and the transport area where Denmark participates to a broad extent. Denmark also participates in cooperation on military mobility, internal security (Frontex) and cyber.

The Danish Defence opt-out was removed. In a referendum on 1 June 2022, two-thirds of the Danish voters supported Denmark joining the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy ending Denmark’s 30-year-long opt-out on EU’s defence cooperation. As a result, Denmark joined the EU cooperation on security and defence on 1 July 2022, giving Denmark the opportunity to contribute to EU’s military missions and operations. Future decisions on potential Danish participation in EU’s military missions and operations will always require the involvement of the Danish Parliament ‘Folketinget’. In addition, Denmark is now able to apply for participation in the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) in the area of security and defence policy, which specifically regard the development of defence capabilities, and the European Defence Agency (EDA), which aims, among other things, to promote EU cooperation on defence equipment.

On the 23rd of March 2023, the Danish Parliament voted in favor of the proposal B 30 on Danish participation in PESCO and EDA. On the same day, Denmark became a member of EDA. PESCO was established in 2017. Since then, PESCO has been essential in the continued development of the EU defence dimension. The PESCO cooperation particularly concerns the development of new defence capabilities through a number of projects that are divided into seven main areas: training facilities, air systems, land military systems, maritime security, cyber security, support capabilities and aerospace. There are currently 60 PESCO projects, driven by demands of Member States and often implemented in collaboration with or by companies and research institutes. On 23 May 2023 the Council adopted a decision confirming Denmark’s participation in the Permanent Structured Cooperation. Denmark therefore becomes the 26th member of PESCO.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) was established as an intergovernmental agency under the Council in 2004. The purpose of the EDA is to support its Member States in improving their defence capabilities in the field of crisis management, to develop and promote EU cooperation on defence equipment, to strengthen technology and research in the field of defence and to create a competitive European defence equipment market. EU Member States can decide to be a member of the EDA on a voluntary basis. The EDA also has agreements with a number of countries outside the EU, including Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United States of America. Within the framework of the EU-NATO Joint Declaration of 2023, the EDA also cooperates with NATO.