1972 Danish European Communities membership referendum

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]

1972 Danish European Communities membership referendum

2 October 1972
Should Denmark join the European Economic Community?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 1,958,043 63.29% No 1,135,755 36.71% Valid votes 3,093,798 99.38% Invalid or blank votes 19,323 0.62% Total votes 3,113,121 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 3,453,763 90.14%
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

See also

• Danish withdrawal from the European Union