Denmark to hold referendum on scrapping EU defence opt-out

PM urges voters to overturn existing policy in June and pledges boost to defence spending following Russian invasion of Ukraine

Denmark's prime minister has called for the country's citizens to overturn the country's opt-out from EU defence policy in a referendum to be held on 1 June, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Historic times call for historic decisions," Mette Frederiksen told a news conference on Sunday, adding that the government very clearly calls on Danes to lift the opt-out on defence".