1972 Danish European Communities membership referendum
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A referendum on joining the European Economic Community was held in Denmark on 2 October 1972.[1] The result was 63% in favour with a turnout of 90%.[2] The law that Denmark should be member of the EEC was passed on 11 October 1972, and Denmark became a member on 1 January 1973.[3]
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2 October 1972
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Should Denmark join the European Economic Community? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Results by nomination district and constituency
Yes: 50–55% 55–60% 60–65% 65–70% 70%+ No: 50–55% 55–60% 60–65% 65–70% 70%+ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
According to Article 20, section 2 of the Danish constitution, any law that makes limitations to the sovereignty of the Danish state (as membership of the EEC would) must be passed in the Danish parliament with 5/6 of the parliament's members voting for the law.[4] If a majority of members vote for the law, but not by 5/6 majority, and the government wishes to uphold the suggested law, the law can still be passed in a public referendum, as was the case in the 1972 referendum.[4]
According to a 2022 study, municipalities that experienced more German-inflicted violence during the German occupation of Denmark in WWII were more likely to vote against joining the EEC.[5]
Results
| Choice | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | 1,958,043 | 63.29 | |
| Against | 1,135,755 | 36.71 | |
| Total | 3,093,798 | 100.00 | |
| Valid votes | 3,093,798 | 99.38 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 19,323 | 0.62 | |
| Total votes | 3,113,121 | 100.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,453,763 | 90.14 | |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |||
