Danish withdrawal from the European Union (colloquially Dexit or Danexit, a portmanteau of "Danish" and "exit") is the hypothesis that Denmark might leave the European Union (EU). Leaving the EU is officially supported by just two of the political parties represented in the Danish Parliament, with less than 8% of the total seats.

Background

In June 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU. Eurosceptics elsewhere in the EU were encouraged by this decision, although its consequences had yet to emerge.

In 2016, Kristian Thulesen Dahl, then leader of the Danish People's Party (DPP), said that he wanted a referendum on whether Denmark should leave the EU.

In 2020, Morten Messerschmidt, leader of the DPP since 2022, said that his country might leave the European Union within the next few years due to what he believed would be "the success of Brexit".. In March 2026, Messerschmidt stated that his party no longer supported leaving the European Union.

Political positions

As of 2023, membership of the European Union has broad support across the Danish political spectrum, including from the governing Social Democratic Party and the main opposition Venstre. The right-wing parties Danish People's Party and the New Right party support leaving the EU. Together, the two parties hold 10 of the 179 seats in the Danish parliament (as of July 2023).

Although historically eurosceptic, the left-wing Unity List dropped its policy of supporting a membership referendum in 2019 as a result of the troubled Brexit negotiations. It now advocates for reform of EU policies. In 2022 it removed the wish to leave the EU from its manifesto, instead describing a "perspective" to leave the EU. This was not without controversy within the party.

The classical liberal and libertarian Liberal Alliance tends to favour radically reforming and rolling back powers of the EU to protect Danish sovereignty, but individual politicians within the party and its youth branch at times but not any more endorse a complete withdrawal with some arguing that Denmark should leave the EU while maintaining single-market access.

History Denmark has been a member of the EU since 1973 and a majority support continued Danish membership of the EU. Greenland, after establishing home rule in 1979, voted to leave the European Communities in 1982 while remaining a country of the Kingdom of Denmark. Denmark has twice voted against closer union: in 1992, the Danes voted against ratification of the Treaty of Maastricht, but approved it after the Danish Government renegotiated its terms to secure Danish opt-outs from some of its provisions; in 2000 in another referendum, Denmark decided by a small majority not to join the euro, but Danmarks Nationalbank continued its policy of maintaining a fixed exchange rate between the Danish krone and the euro.

Public opinion

Dates conductedPolling by Remain LeaveUndecided or don't knowLeadAugust 2025YouGov/Eurotrack13% Total 'Leave'13% Don't know/Refused62%March 2023YouGov/Eurotrack16% Total 'Leave'16% Don't know/Refused52%February 2021YouGov/Eurotrack23% Total 'Leave'12% Don't know39%April 2020SentioPeople's Movement against the EU: A representative poll shows Danes divided in the question of EU membership, People's Movement against the EU, 8 April 2020 (in Danish)The poll question was: If a Nordic cooperation could be established, consisting of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden with common policies within a great number of issues, e.g. environment, judicial and foreign policy, as well as trade agreements with the EU and other countries – and you had the choice between Denmark participating in the Nordic cooperation or be a member of the EU. Then what would you vote for?22% Don't know0%1 February 2020 The United Kingdom left the European Union.November 2019Eurobarometer26% Tend not to trust11% Don't know what to do37%April 2019SentioMost Danes want Nordic cooperation before EU membership , Arbejderen, 26 April 2019 (in Danish)41% EU membership2%November 2018Eurobarometer31% Tend not to trust9% Don't know what to do29%November 2017Eurobarometer37% Tend not to trust11% Don't know what to do15%November 2016Eurobarometer39% Total 'Pessimistic'4% Don't know18%23 June 2016The United Kingdom votes to leave the European Union.11-12 April 2016Analyseenheden 4Va4v (12 April 2016). Danexit after Brexit? Summary 30% Stay in the EU27% Follow Britain out of the EU34% Wait and see, and decide later9% Don't know4%November 2015Eurobarometer30% Total 'Pessimistic'5% Don't know35%November 2014Eurobarometer25% Total 'Pessimistic'2% Don't know48%November 2013Eurobarometer22% Total 'Pessimistic'3% Don't know53%

See also Denmark in the European Union Denmark and the euro Interpretation of EU Treaty law by European Court of Justice Multi-speed Europe Referendums related to the European Union Withdrawal of Greenland from the European Communities Brexit (British withdrawal from the European Union) Propositions Frexit (French withdrawal from the European Union) Dutch withdrawal from the European Union German withdrawal from the European Union Hungarian withdrawal from the European Union Polish withdrawal from the European Union Romanian withdrawal from the European Union

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