(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Many people in Denmark are willing to revise the country’s decision to opt out from some aspects of their European Union (EU) membership, according to a poll by Gallup published in Berlingske Tidende. At least 54 per cent of respondents think the country should lift the exemptions on judiciary cooperation and joint defence.

An additional 47 per cent of respondents think Denmark should also lift an exemption on adopting the common European currency. Conversely, 64 per cent of respondents say Denmark should not reconsider its decision to opt out from the European citizenship.

In May 1993, Denmark adopted the European Union (EU) Maastricht Treaty with four exemptions: the adoption of a single European currency, joint defence, judiciary cooperation—which allows Denmark to have its own immigration and asylum policy—and European citizenship.

Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen of the Left, Liberal Party of Denmark (V) has said he wants to put the four EU exemptions to a nationwide vote in 2009. Danish voters rejected the euro in a September 2000 plebiscite.

On Jun. 5, Rasmussen ratified his support for lifting the EU exemptions, saying that they "harm Denmark," and adding that there is "no doubt that Denmark has to join the euro in order to be in the heart of Europe."

Polling Data

Do you think Denmark should lift these exemptions?

Source: Gallup / Berlingske Tidende
Methodology: Interviews to 1,005 Danes, conducted on Jun. 3 and Jun. 4, 2008. No margin of error was provided.

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