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Poll: Danes are against EU nuclear weapons and want to keep opt-out on EU defence policy

Thu, 27/11/2008 - 17:01 — admin-b

On behalf of the People’s Movement against the EU in Denmark, research institute Synovate made an opinion poll on EU military. 1010 statistically representative persons in Denmark were interviewed between the 15th and 25th of October.

Three questions were asked:

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First question: Denmark has a defence opt-out, which means that Denmark does not participate in EU’s defence policy including military EU operations under EU flag. Do you wish that Denmark abolish the opt-out or do you wish it sustained?

43 % sustained (Women 47 %) (Men 38%)
34 % abolish (Women 24 %) (Men 44 %)
24 % don’t know (Women 29 %) (Men 18 %)

Young people (18-29) also strongly support the opt-out (48% sustain, 22% abolish, 31% don’t know. Only the age group over 60 years were against the opt-out 35 % sustain, 39 % abolish and 26 % do not know).

Second question: Are you for or against nuclear weapons as defence weapons in the EU?

5 % for (Women 2 %) (Men 9 %)
89 % against (Women 92 %) (Men 85 %)
6 % don’t know (Women 6%) (Men 6 %)

All age groups against EU nuclear defence weapons.

Third question: Are you for or against a general ban on nuclear weapons in the geographic Europe?

53 % for (women 56 %) (men 50 %)
41 % against (women 38 %) (men 45 %)
6 % Don’t know (women 7 %) (men 5 %)

All age groups are for a ban on nuclear weapons in Europe.

More info in Danish here.

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Thu, 27/11/2008 - 17:23 — admin-b

Greenland votes for more self-rule

Greenland votes for more self-rule, article from RTÉ

Greenland is a step closer to independence from Denmark after voting for more self-rule, but questions remain over the viability of sovereignty and the exploitation of Arctic riches.

More than 75% of voters said Yes yesterday to greater autonomy and local government head Hans Enoksen said he dreams of an independent Greenland in 12 years, in time ‘for my 65th birthday.’

His former foreign minister Aleqa Hammond would like to see the island cut its ties to Denmark in eight years, and the head of Greenland’s employees union SIK, Jess Berthelsen, wants it to happen in four years.

But No campaign leader Jens Frederiksen said ‘it’s an illusion to think that Greenland can spread its own wings that soon.’

‘We don’t yet have the means to finance the new areas Greenland will be taking over from Denmark as part of self-rule, including justice, police, and prison affairs,’ he said.

Mr Frederiksen said ‘independence requires a healthy economy,’ and ‘that’s not the case in Greenland’ where there have been successive budget deficits in recent years. ‘The local government has itself admitted that its coffers will be empty in four years.’

Greenland receives annual subsidies from Denmark - about 3.2 billion kroner (€430 million) in 2007 - or almost half of its budget.

Finn Lynge, a politician and author, said he thinks it is ‘impossible for an island with 50,000 to 60,000 inhabitants to become an independent state.’

‘There are simply too few of us to provide the personnel necessary to develop a viable state,’ he said.