Danish euro referendum more than a year away

Danes who refused to replace the kroner with the euro in 2000, will not vote on adopting the common currency before 2004 at the earliest, said Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

The premier, a proponent of joining the European Monetary Union, said a new referendum would be held after Danes have seen the changes made to the EU’s basic treaty.

The content of the revised treaty will not be known until 2004.

“I find it fairest to the population that we know the content of the new treaty before we take a position on the Danish exemptions,” Fogh Rasmussen said in yesterday’s speech. Danes “likely would have to vote on the revised treaty in 2004 or 2005.”

Denmark, Sweden and Britain have refrained from adopting the euro.

Recent Danish opinion polls have shown that nearly two-thirds favour the new currency .

Neighbouring Sweden will hold a referendum on September 14 to decide whether to join the euro-zone. The outcome of that referendum is expected to influence Danes.