Denmark: A Pragmatic Euroscepticism
The Danes are generally happy with the EU’s level of economic integration and are proponents of furthering the integration of the single market. However, they are sceptical when it comes to the EU’s federal trimmings and EU process standards in social and employment policies.
Issues, such as roaming costs, CO2 emissions, and asylum hold the potential to show the Danes and other Europeans the interrelatedness of many of today’s challenges. Despite this, there is currently little public awareness that these issues have anything to do with the EU.
The Danes’ support for the EU is grounded in the pragmatic perception that the EU is a necessary and cost-efficient relationship for a small, continental country. Yet, Denmark displays a sovereignty-based euroscepticism, which means that they prefer an EU whose decision-making favours a strong role of the Council, that is the Member States.
Available in:
Regions and themes
Share
Download the full analysis
This page contains only a summary of our work. If you would like to have access to all the information from our research on the subject, you can download the full version in PDF format.
Denmark: A Pragmatic Euroscepticism
Related centers and programs
Discover our other research centers and programsFind out more
Discover all our analysesFragmented Europe: Dealing with China as a technology and innovation power
How is Europe navigating China’s ascension as a technological power? The latest report by the European Think-tank Network on China (ETNC) provides a nuanced account of a converging, yet still fragmented approach across 22 countries.
The G7 Leaders’ Summit in France: An Unexpected Success
Overall, it was a successful summit for President Macron. However, caution is warranted regarding the 2026 G7’s lasting legacy, as the unpredictability of the U.S. president could affect the durability of commitments made.
China’s EV Rise and the Strategic Challenge for Japan’s Automotive Industry
China’s rapid expansion in electric vehicle production is reshaping global automotive competition for both European and Japanese automakers. Japan —a pioneer in hybrid vehicles— is struggling to translate this leadership into battery electric vehicles (BEVs), as Chinese manufacturers rapidly scale production and exports. At the same time, China’s dominance in battery manufacturing and critical mineral processing exposes upstream vulnerabilities for Japan’s automotive industry. Together, these developments create a dual challenge: intensifying downstream competition in electric vehicle (EV) markets and continued dependence on Chinese-controlled supply chains.
Crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. A Stress Test for Taiwan with Global Implications
The large-scale military operation carried out by the United States (US) and Israel against Iran triggered an Iranian retaliation that resulted in the partial destruction of natural gas liquefaction infrastructure and severe disruption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The economies of East Asia—South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan in particular—are highly exposed to this crisis due to their reliance on liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports for electricity generation.