Copenhagen - Danish opposition parties Wednesday failed to persuade Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen to call a referendum on some of the country's current opt-outs from the European Union. "We should not be too hasty," he said after a meeting with other party leaders to discuss the consequences of the Lisbon Treaty, which comes into force next week.
The opposition Social Democrats, Social Liberals and Socialist People's Party suggested a March 23 referendum on the opt-outs on security and defence policy as well as justice and home affairs.
The exceptions were adopted in 1993, the year after Danes voted against the Maastricht Treaty, which laid the groundwork for many EU institutions.
Rasmussen said that before holding a referendum it was essential to secure a broad parliamentary majority to do away with all exceptions, including introduction of the euro.
Danes voted in 2000 against replacing the krone with the euro.
The opposition proposal did not include a referendum on the euro, partly since the Socialist People's Party is opposed to the European currency.
Pia Kjaersgaard, leader of the Danish People's Party, called the opposition mvoes a "media stunt." Her party has pushed for tighter immigration laws and backs Rasmussen's minority government, except on EU affairs.
