# 2015 Danish European Union opt-out referendum

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.

### Consequences in legislation
#### List of legislation

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

##### 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

* Europol, eu.dk Archived 2019-06-08 at the Wayback Machine
* PNR, eu.dk Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
* Eurojust, eu.dk Archived 2019-06-08 at the Wayback Machine

## 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

| 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 |||
Results by constituency :
| District | Yes | Yes | No | No | Valid | Blank | Invalid | Total |
| District | Votes | % | Votes | % | Valid | Blank | Invalid | Total |
| 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

* ↑ The ballot question was the name of the proposal.