| 1972 Danish European Communities membership referendum | |
| Should Denmark join the European Economic Community? | |
| Location: | Denmark |
| Country: | Denmark |
| Date: | 2 October 1972 |
| Yes: | 1958043 |
| No: | 1135755 |
| Invalid: | 19323 |
| Electorate: | 3453763 |
| Map: | Folkeafstemning 1972 - Opstillingskredse.svg |
A referendum on joining the European Economic Community was held in Denmark on 2 October 1972.[1] The result was 63.3% in favour with a turnout of 90.1%.[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]
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]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 1,958,043 | 63.3 |
| Against | 1,135,755 | 36.7 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 19,323 | – |
| Total | 3,113,121 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,453,763 | 90.1 |
| align=left colspan=3 | Source: Nohlen & Stöver |