DENMARK IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

As a result of the Danish referenda on the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 and 1993, Denmark has a number of opt-outs from participation in EU policies in the areas of monetary policy, defence, justice and home affairs.

The European Union is a community of democracies based on shared values of human rights, democracy and a free market economy. As such, the European Union has succeeded in sustaining welfare and maintaining a peaceful Europe on a continent that was ravaged twice by great wars during the last century. The European Union has created a well-functioning internal market of goods, capital and labour.

Denmark has been an active member of the EU since 1973. Denmark sets the standard with respect to fast implementation of EU regulations into national legislation. We have the lowest number of infringement proceedings before the Court of Justice, and a tradition for public debate and transparent public administration, which is reflected in our European policy. The EU must create clear and visible results for the individual citizen.

Denmark has been working actively to see the enlargement of the European Union from 15 to 27 Member States succeed. The enlargement process is a vast project for peace and democracy. The European Union should also be an active neighbour, for instance in the Baltic Sea Region.

The EU is an important actor for peace and development on the global scale as well. Denmark is actively helping reconstruction and stabilisation efforts for instance in the Western Balkans.

As the world's biggest donor of development aid in relative terms, Denmark supports ambitious EU targets for development assistance and an active EU policy in this regard.

As a result of the Danish referenda on the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 and 1993, Denmark has a number of opt-outs from its participation in EU policies: Denmark participates fully in the second stage of the EMU and its stability-oriented monetary and fiscal policy obligations.

Denmark does not, however, take part in the third stage of the EMU: that is the euro and the single monetary policy. The Danish currency (the "krone") is linked closely to the euro via ERMII, in continuation of the present Danish fixed exchange rate policy.

Denmark participates in the Common Foreign and Security Policy except for decisions and actions with defence implications. Denmark participates in the intergovernmental cooperation on justice and home affairs, for instance in the fight against terrorism, but is not involved in the supranational cooperation in this field.

Denmark continues its strong involvement in the European Union while respecting the four opt-outs that resulted from the Danish people's decision in the two referenda.