Editing Denmark (section)

== Government and politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Denmark}}
{{Hatnote|Also related: [[Politics of the Faroe Islands]] and [[Politics of Greenland]]}}

{{multiple image
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 | image1 = Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark in 2021.jpg
 | caption1 = [[Frederik X]],<br />[[Monarchy of Denmark|King of Denmark]]
 | image2 = Mette Frederiksen Kööpenhaminassa 4.5.2022 (52049397038) (cropped).jpg
 | caption2 = [[Mette Frederiksen]],<br />[[Prime Minister of Denmark]]
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Politics in Denmark operate under a framework laid out in the [[Constitution of Denmark]].{{#tag:ref|Denmark has a [[codified constitution]]. Changes to it require an absolute majority in two consecutive parliamentary terms and the approval of at least 40% of the electorate through a referendum.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tschentscher, Axel |url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |title=The Constitution of Denmark – Section 88 |publisher=Servat.unibe.ch |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710092702/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |archive-date=10 July 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref>|group="N"}} First written in 1849, it establishes a sovereign state in the form of a [[constitutional monarchy]], with a representative [[Unicameralism|unicameral]] [[parliamentary system]]. The [[Monarchy of Denmark|monarch]] officially retains [[Executive (government)|executive power]] and presides over the [[Danish Council of State|Council of State]] ([[privy council]]).<ref>"The executive power is vested in the King." [http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html The Constitution of Denmark – Section 3.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710092702/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |date=10 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>"The body of Ministers shall form the Council of State, in which the Successor to the Throne shall have a seat when he is of age. The Council of State shall be presided over by the King{{nbsp}}..." [http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html The Constitution of Denmark – Section 17.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710092702/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |date=10 July 2011 }}</ref> In practice, the duties of the monarch are strictly representative and [[ceremonial]],<ref group="N">The Constitution refers to "the King" ({{langx|da|kongen}}), rather than the gender-neutral term "monarch". In light of the restriction of powers of the monarchy, this is best interpreted as referring to the government Cabinet.</ref><ref>[http://kongehuset.dk/english/the-monarchy-in-denmark/the-monarchy-today The Monarchy today] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150215082552/http://kongehuset.dk/english/the-monarchy-in-denmark/the-monarchy-today |date=15 February 2015 }} – ''The Danish Monarchy'' (kongehuset.dk). Access date: 16 June 2012</ref> such as the formal appointment and dismissal of the [[Prime Minister of Denmark|Prime Minister]] and other Government ministers. The Monarch is not answerable for his or her actions, and their [[legal personality|person]] is [[sacrosanct]].<ref>"The King shall not be answerable for his actions; his person shall be sacrosanct." [http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html The Constitution of Denmark – Section 13.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710092702/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |date=10 July 2011 }}</ref> [[Hereditary monarchy|Hereditary monarch]] [[King Frederik X]] has been head of state since 14 January 2024.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bryant |first1=Miranda |title=Denmark's King Frederik X takes throne after Margrethe abdicates |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/14/denmark-proclaims-king-frederik-queen-margrethe-abdicates |work=The Guardian |date=14 January 2024 |access-date=19 February 2024 |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221130224/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/14/denmark-proclaims-king-frederik-queen-margrethe-abdicates |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Government ===
{{Main|Folketing|Cabinet of Denmark}}
{{See also|Løgting|Cabinet of the Faroe Islands}}
{{Hatnote|Also related: [[Inatsisartut]] and [[Cabinet of Greenland]]}}

[[File:Denmark disposable income.webp|thumb|upright=1.25|Denmark disposable income after tax, not including [[Value-added tax]] or [[Property tax]]]]

The Danish parliament is [[unicameral]] and called the Folketing ({{langx|da|Folketinget}}). It is the [[legislature]] of the Kingdom of Denmark, passing [[Act of Parliament|acts]] that apply in Denmark and, variably, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. The Folketing is also responsible for adopting the [[government budget|state's budgets]], approving the state's accounts, appointing and exercising control of the Government, and taking part in international co-operation. [[Bill (proposed law)|Bills]] may be initiated by the Government or by [[Member of parliament|members of parliament]]. All bills passed must be presented before the Council of State to receive [[Royal Assent]] within thirty days in order to become law.<ref>"A Bill passed by the Parliament shall become law if it receives the Royal Assent not later than thirty days after it was finally passed." [http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html The Constitution of Denmark – Section 22.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710092702/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |date=10 July 2011 }}</ref>

[[File:Christiansborg (Matthias Schalk).jpg|thumb|left|[[Christiansborg Palace]] houses the Folketing, the [[Supreme Court of Denmark|Supreme Court]], and government offices]]

Denmark is a [[representative democracy]] with [[universal suffrage]].{{#tag:ref|The [[Economist Intelligence Unit]], while acknowledging that democracy is difficult to measure, listed Denmark 5th on its [[Democracy Index|index of democracy]].<ref name="Democracy_Index">{{cite web|title=Democracy Index 2014|url=http://www.sudestada.com.uy/Content/Articles/421a313a-d58f-462e-9b24-2504a37f6b56/Democracy-index-2014.pdf|publisher=The Economist/Economist Intelligence Unit|access-date=23 August 2015|date=2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201164818/http://www.sudestada.com.uy/Content/Articles/421a313a-d58f-462e-9b24-2504a37f6b56/Democracy-index-2014.pdf|archive-date=1 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>|group="N"}} Membership of the Folketing is based on [[proportional representation]] of political parties,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html|title=ICL – Denmark – Constitution – Section 31. Elections|work=unibe.ch|access-date=12 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710092702/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html|archive-date=10 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> with a 2% electoral threshold. Denmark elects 175 members to the Folketing, with Greenland and the Faroe Islands electing an additional two members each—179 members in total.<ref>{{harvnb|Jørgensen|1995|p=16.}}</ref> Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years, but it is within the powers of the prime minister to ask the monarch to call for an election before the term has elapsed. On a [[Motion of no confidence|vote of no confidence]], the Folketing may force a single minister or an entire government to resign.<ref>"A Minister shall not remain in office after the Parliament has passed a vote of no confidence in him." [http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html The Constitution of Denmark – Section 15.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710092702/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |date=10 July 2011 }}</ref>

The Government of Denmark operates as a [[Cabinet (government)|cabinet government]], where executive authority is exercised—formally, on behalf of the monarch—by the prime minister and other [[cabinet minister]]s, who head [[List of Danish government ministries|ministries]]. As the executive branch, the Cabinet is responsible for proposing bills and a budget, executing the laws, and guiding the foreign and internal policies of Denmark. The monarch usually, but not necessarily, requests the person most likely to command the [[confidence and supply|confidence]] majority in the Folketing to become prime minister; this is often the current leader of the largest [[political party]] or, more effectively, through a [[political alliance|coalition of parties]]. A single party generally does not have sufficient political power in terms of the number of seats to form a cabinet on its own; Denmark has often been ruled by [[coalition governments]], themselves usually [[minority government]]s dependent on non-government parties.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b.dk/din-mening/radikale-ved-historisk-skillevej|title=Radikale ved historisk skillevej|work=[[Berlingske Tidende]]|date=17 June 2007|access-date=17 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811132101/http://www.b.dk/din-mening/radikale-ved-historisk-skillevej|archive-date=11 August 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following the [[2022 Danish general election]] in November 2022, incumbent prime minister and [[Social Democrats (Denmark)|Social Democratic leader]] [[Mette Frederiksen]] in December 2022 formed the current [[Frederiksen II Cabinet]], a coalition government  with the until then leading opposition party [[Venstre (Denmark)|Venstre]] and the recently founded [[Moderates (Denmark)|Moderate party]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Danish PM picks right-leaning rivals as key ministers in new government |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/danish-pm-frederiksen-appoints-lokke-rasmussen-foreign-minister-new-government-2022-12-15/ |work=Reuters |date=15 December 2022 |language=en |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531004057/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/danish-pm-frederiksen-appoints-lokke-rasmussen-foreign-minister-new-government-2022-12-15/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Traditionally broad policies are planned by the government in conjunction and cooperation with the Folketing, the labour unions and the main organisations of business leaders, as agrred upon compromises. 
=== Law and judicial system ===
{{Main|Law of Denmark|Courts of Denmark}}
{{See also|Crime in Denmark}}
{{Hatnote|Also related: [[Judiciary of Greenland]]}}
[[File:2024 Københavns Domhus (1).jpg|thumb|"With law shall land be built", preamble to the [[Codex Holmiensis|Code of Jutland]] above [[Copenhagen Court House]]. In 2023, the [[World Justice Project]] ranked Denmark no. 1 on their rule of law index<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-25 |title=WJP Rule of Law Index 2023 Global Press Release |url=https://worldjusticeproject.org/news/wjp-rule-law-index-2023-global-press-release |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=World Justice Project |language=en}}</ref>]]
Denmark has a [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]] system with some references to [[Germanic law]]. Denmark resembles Norway and Sweden in never having developed a [[case-law]] like that of [[English law|England]] and the [[United States]] nor comprehensive [[Code (law)|codes]] like those of France and Germany. Much of its law is [[Custom (law)|customary]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Orfield|first1=Lester Bernhardt Orfield|title=The Growth of Scandinavian Law|date=2002|publisher=Lawbook Exchange|location=Union, N.J.|isbn=978-1-58477-180-7|page=14}}</ref>

The judicial system of Denmark is divided between courts with regular civil and [[criminal law|criminal]] jurisdiction and administrative courts with jurisdiction over litigation between individuals and the public administration. Articles sixty-two and sixty-four of the Constitution ensure [[judicial independence]] from government and Parliament by providing that judges shall only be guided by the law, including acts, statutes and practice.<ref>"The administration of justice shall always remain independent of the executive power. Rules to this effect shall be laid down by Statute&nbsp;..." [http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html The Constitution of Denmark – Sections/Articles 62 and 64.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710092702/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/da00000_.html |date=10 July 2011 }}</ref> The Kingdom of Denmark does not have a single unified judicial system – Denmark has one system, Greenland another, and the Faroe Islands a third.<ref>{{harvnb|Gammelgaard|Sørensen|1998|p=18}}</ref> However, decisions by the highest courts in Greenland and the Faroe Islands may be appealed to the Danish High Courts. The [[Supreme Court of Denmark|Danish Supreme Court]] is the highest civil and criminal court responsible for the administration of justice in the Kingdom.

=== Danish Realm ===
{{Main|Danish Realm}}

[[File:Kunoy.10.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|The village of [[Kunoy (village)|Kunoy]] on [[Kunoy]] island, in the [[Faroe Islands]]. [[Kalsoy]] island is at right]]

The Kingdom of Denmark is a [[unitary state]] that comprises, in addition to metropolitan Denmark, two [[autonomous administrative division|autonomous territories]]<ref name="territory" /> in the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic Ocean]]: the [[Faroe Islands]] and [[Greenland]]. They have been integrated parts of the Danish Realm since the 18th century; however, due to their separate historical and cultural identities, these parts of the Realm have extensive political powers and have assumed [[legislature|legislative]] and administrative responsibility in a substantial number of fields.<ref>[http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/autonomy.html The working autonomies in Europe] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309063149/http://www.gfbv.it/3dossier/eu-min/autonomy.html |date=9 March 2008 }} – Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker (GFBV). Retrieved 13 March 2012.</ref> [[Home rule]] was granted to the Faroe Islands in 1948 and to Greenland in 1979, each having previously had the status of [[counties of Denmark|counties]].<ref name=stm>[http://www.stm.dk/_p_10988.html The unity of the Realm] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120161948/http://www.stm.dk/_p_10988.html |date=20 January 2013 }} – Statsministeriet – stm.dk. Retrieved 13 March 2012.</ref>

The Faroe Islands and Greenland have their own home governments and parliaments and are effectively [[self-governance|self-governing]] in regards to domestic affairs apart from the judicial system and monetary policy.<ref name=stm /> [[High Commissioner]]s (''{{lang|da|Rigsombudsmand}}'') act as representatives of the Danish government in the Faroese [[Løgting]] and in the [[Parliament of Greenland|Greenlandic Parliament]], but they cannot vote.<ref name=stm /> The Faroese home government is defined to be an equal partner with the Danish national government,<ref>{{cite web|title=Act on the Faroese authorities acquisition of affairs and fields|url=https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=20991|website=retsinformation.dk|access-date=11 June 2014|language=da|trans-title=Lov om de færøske myndigheders overtagelse af sager og sagsområder|date=24 June 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120224148/https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=20991|archive-date=20 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> while the [[Greenlandic Inuit|Greenlandic people]] are defined as a separate people with the right to [[self-determination]].<ref>[https://www.retsinformation.dk:443/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=125052 ''Lov om Grønlands Selvstyre''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106211314/https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=125052 |date=6 November 2018 }} {{in lang|da}}. Retsinformation.dk. "I erkendelse af, at det grønlandske folk er et folk i henhold til folkeretten med ret til selvbestemmelse, bygger loven på et ønske om at fremme ligeværdighed og gensidig respekt i partnerskabet mellem Danmark og Grønland."</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Autonomous territory
! [[List of countries and dependencies by population|Population]] {{small|(2020)}}
! Total area
! [[Capital city|Capital]]
! [[List of legislatures by country|Local parliament]]
! Premier
|-
| {{flag|Faroe Islands}} {{small|(''{{lang|da|Færøerne}}'', ''{{lang|fo|Føroyar}}'')}}
| 52,110<ref name="Faroer pop">{{cite web|title=Faroe Islands Population|url=http://citypopulation.de/en/faroe/cities/|publisher=Hagstova Føroya|access-date=1 April 2020|archive-date=15 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200515175245/http://citypopulation.de/en/faroe/cities/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{convert|1,399|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|sigfig=5}}
| {{coat of arms|Tórshavn}}
| ''[[Løgting]]''
| [[Aksel V. Johannesen]]
|-
| {{flag|Greenland}} {{small|(''{{lang|da|Grønland}}'', ''{{lang|kl|Kalaallit Nunaat}}'')}}
| 56,081<ref name="Greenland pop">{{cite web|title=2020 Population|url=http://citypopulation.de/en/greenland/|access-date=1 April 2020|archive-date=5 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505153812/http://www.citypopulation.de/en/greenland/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{convert|2,166,086|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|sigfig=6}}
| {{coat of arms|Nuuk}}
| ''[[Inatsisartut]]''
| [[Múte Bourup Egede]]
|}

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main|Regions of Denmark|Municipalities of Denmark}}
{{Hatnote|Also related: [[Municipalities of the Faroe Islands]], [[Administrative divisions of Greenland]], and [[NUTS statistical regions of Denmark]]}}
<!--This section only details divisions with an administrate purpose-->
{{Danish regions|float=right}}

Denmark, with a total area of {{convert|43,094|km2|sqmi|lk=in|sigfig=5}}, is divided into five administrative regions ({{langx|da|regioner}}). The regions are further subdivided into [[List of municipalities of Denmark|98 municipalities]] (''{{lang|da|kommuner}}''). The easternmost land in Denmark, the [[Ertholmene]] archipelago, with an area of 39 hectares (0.16 sq mi), is neither part of a municipality nor a region but belongs to the [[Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Jonas |last=Michael Kjær |title=Christiansø betaler ikke sundhedsbidrag |date=15 November 2006 |url=http://www.dr.dk/Regioner/Bornholm/Nyheder/Christiansoe/2006/11/15160130.htm |work=dr.dk |access-date=12 August 2007 |language=da |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011075640/http://dr.dk/Regioner/Bornholm/Nyheder/Christiansoe/2006/11/15160130.htm |archive-date=11 October 2007 }}</ref> The [[provinces of Denmark]] are statistical divisions of Denmark, positioned between the [[Regions of Denmark|administrative regions]] and [[municipalities of Denmark|municipalities]]. They are not administrative divisions, nor subject for any kind of political elections, but are mainly for statistical use.

The regions were created on [[2005 Danish local elections|1 January 2007]] to replace the 16 [[Counties of Denmark|former counties]]. At the same time, smaller municipalities were merged into larger units, reducing the number from 271 to 98.<ref name="nuts">{{cite web | title=Regioner, landsdele og kommuner, v1:2007- | website=Danmarks Statistik | url=https://www.dst.dk/da/Statistik/dokumentation/nomenklaturer/nuts | language=da | access-date=29 Apr 2025}}</ref> Most municipalities have a population of at least 20,000 to give them financial and professional sustainability, although a few exceptions were made to this rule.<ref>[http://www.citypopulation.de/Denmark.html Denmark: Regions, Municipalities, Cities & Major Urban Areas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408144050/http://www.citypopulation.de/Denmark.html |date=8 April 2012 }} – Statistics and Maps on ''City Population''.</ref> The administrative divisions are led by directly elected councils, elected proportionally every four years; the most recent [[2021 Danish local elections|Danish local elections]] were held on 16 November 2021. Other regional structures use the municipal boundaries as a layout, including the [[Police of Denmark|police districts]], the [[courts of Denmark|court districts]] and the [[Ward (country subdivision)|electoral wards]].

==== Regions ====
The governing bodies of the regions are the [[local government|regional councils]], each with forty-one councillors elected for four-year terms. The councils are headed by regional district chairmen (''{{lang|da|regionsrådsformand}}''), who are elected by the council.<ref name="brief">{{cite book|title=The Danish Regions – in Brief|date=2007|publisher=Danske Regioner|location=Copenhagen|isbn=978-87-7723-471-2|edition=3rd rev.}}</ref>
The areas of responsibility for the regional councils are the [[health care in Denmark|national health service]], [[social services]] and [[regional development]].<ref name="brief" /><ref name=regioner>{{cite web|title=Regional Tasks in Denmark|url=http://www.regioner.dk/in+english/regional+denmark/regional+tasks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140510023358/http://www.regioner.dk/in+english/regional+denmark/regional+tasks|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 May 2014|publisher=Danske Regioner|access-date=23 August 2015}}</ref> Unlike the counties they replaced, the regions are not allowed to levy taxes and the health service is partly financed by a national health care contribution until 2018 (''{{lang|da|sundhedsbidrag}}''), partly by funds from both government and municipalities.<ref name=taxation1>{{cite web|title=The Danish Tax System|url=http://ias.au.dk/taxation/the-danish-tax-system/|publisher=[[Aarhus University]]|access-date=23 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821030836/http://ias.au.dk/taxation/the-danish-tax-system/|archive-date=21 August 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> From 1 January 2019 this contribution will be abolished, as it is being replaced by higher income tax instead.

The [[area]] and populations of the regions vary widely; for example, the [[Capital Region of Denmark|Capital Region]] has a population three times larger than that of [[North Denmark Region]]. Under the county system certain densely populated municipalities, such as [[Copenhagen Municipality]] and [[Frederiksberg Municipality|Frederiksberg]], had been given a status equivalent to that of counties, making them first-level administrative divisions. These ''[[sui generis]]'' municipalities were incorporated into the new regions under the 2007 reforms.

{|class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Danish language|Danish]] name !! English name !! [[Administrative centre|Admin. centre]] !! Largest city<br />(populous)|| Population<br />(April 2021) !! Total area<br />(km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
|| {{lang|da|Hovedstaden}} || [[Capital Region of Denmark]] || [[Hillerød]] || [[Copenhagen]] || style="text-align:right;"| 1,856,061 || style="text-align:right;"| 2,568.29
|-
|| {{lang|da|Midtjylland}} || [[Central Denmark Region]] || [[Viborg, Denmark|Viborg]] || [[Aarhus]] || style="text-align:right;"| 1,333,245 || style="text-align:right;"| 13,095.80
|-
|| {{lang|da|Nordjylland}} || [[North Denmark Region]] || [[Aalborg]] || [[Aalborg]] || style="text-align:right;"| 590,322 || style="text-align:right;"| 7,907.09
|-
|| {{lang|da|Sjælland}} || [[Region Zealand]] || [[Sorø]] || [[Roskilde]] || style="text-align:right;"| 839,619 || style="text-align:right;"| 7,268.75
|-
|| {{lang|da|Syddanmark}} || [[Region of Southern Denmark]] || [[Vejle]] || [[Odense]] || style="text-align:right;"| 1,224,100 || style="text-align:right;"| 12,132.21
|-
| colspan=6 |Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20180208230627/http://www.noegletal.dk/ Regional and municipal key figures]
|}

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Denmark}}
{{Hatnote|Also related: [[Foreign relations of the Faroe Islands]] and [[Foreign relations of Greenland]]}}

[[File:20211103 Nordiska Radets session Kopenhamn 808A9452 (51654525096).jpg|thumb|Danish prime minister [[Mette Frederiksen]] (second from left) with foreign counterparts at the [[Nordic Council]] in Copenhagen, 2021]]

Denmark wields considerable influence in Northern Europe and is a [[middle power]] in international affairs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Behringer |first1=Ronald M. |title=Middle Power Leadership on the Human Security Agenda |journal=Cooperation and Conflict |volume=40 |issue=3 |pages=305–342 |date=September 2005 |s2cid=144129970 |url=http://cac.sagepub.com/content/40/3/305.abstract |access-date=1 May 2016|doi=10.1177/0010836705055068 |url-status=live |archive-date=6 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106114255/http://cac.sagepub.com/content/40/3/305.abstract|issn = 0010-8367 }}</ref> In recent years, Greenland and the Faroe Islands have been guaranteed a say in foreign policy issues such as fishing, [[whaling]], and geopolitical concerns. The foreign policy of Denmark is substantially influenced by [[Denmark and the European Union|its membership]] of the [[European Union]] (EU); Denmark including Greenland joined the [[European Economic Community]] (EEC), the EU's predecessor, in 1973.<ref group="N">The Faroese declined membership in 1973; Greenland [[withdrawal from the European Union|chose to leave]] the EEC in 1985, following [[1982 Greenlandic European Economic Community membership referendum|a referendum]].</ref> Denmark held the [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]] on seven occasions, most recently from January to June 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Danish Presidency of the European Union 2012 |url=http://eu2012.dk/en|access-date=25 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103093056/http://eu2012.dk/en|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2012 |publisher=European Union}}</ref> Following World War II, Denmark ended its two-hundred-year-long policy of [[Country neutrality (international relations)|neutrality]]. It has been a founding member of the [[NATO|North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) since 1949, and membership remains highly popular.<ref>{{cite web |title=US Department of State: Denmark |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3167.htm |author=Government of the United States |access-date=25 May 2014 |archive-date=20 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210320100909/https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3167.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

As a member of [[Development Assistance Committee]] (DAC), Denmark has for a long time been among the countries of the world contributing the largest percentage of gross national income to [[development aid]]. In 2015, Denmark contributed 0.85% of its [[gross national income]] (GNI) to [[development aid|foreign aid]] and was one of only six countries meeting the longstanding UN target of 0.7% of GNI.<ref group="N">As measured in [[official development assistance]] (ODA). Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom exceeded the United Nations' ODA target of 0.7% of GNI.</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=2015 Preliminary ODA Figures|url=http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/ODA-2015-detailed-summary.pdf|publisher=OECD|access-date=1 May 2016|location=Paris|date=13 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508134014/http://www.oecd.org/dac/stats/ODA-2015-detailed-summary.pdf|archive-date=8 May 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The country participates in both bilateral and multilateral aid, with the aid usually administered by the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark)|Ministry of Foreign Affairs]]. The organisational name of [[Danish International Development Agency]] (DANIDA) is often used, in particular when operating bilateral aid. According to the 2024 [[Global Peace Index]], Denmark is the 8th most peaceful country in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2024 Global Peace Index |url=https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf |access-date=11 August 2024 |archive-date=19 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240819091540/https://www.economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/GPI-2024-web.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Military ===
{{See also|Danish Defence|Military history of Denmark}}

[[File:Danish Military Police.JPG|thumb|Danish Military Police conducting advanced law-enforcement training]]

Denmark's [[armed forces]] are known as the [[Danish Defence]] ({{langx|da|Forsvaret}}). The Minister of Defence is [[commander-in-chief]] of the Danish Defence, and serves as chief [[diplomacy|diplomatic]] official abroad. During peacetime, the [[Ministry of Defence (Denmark)|Ministry of Defence]] employs around 33,000 people in total. The main military branches employ almost 27,000: 15,460 in the [[Royal Danish Army]], 5,300 in the [[Royal Danish Navy]] and 6,050 in the [[Royal Danish Air Force]] (all including conscripts).{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} The [[Danish Emergency Management Agency]] employs 2,000 (including conscripts), and about 4,000 are in non-branch-specific services like the [[Defence Command (Denmark)|Danish Defence Command]] and the [[Danish Defence Intelligence Service]]. Furthermore, around 44,500 serve as volunteers in the [[Home Guard (Denmark)|Danish Home Guard]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hjemmeværnet » Se Karrieremuligheder, Job & Løn |url=https://karriere.forsvaret.dk/karriereveje/militar-karriere/karriere-i-hjemmevarnet/ |access-date=18 October 2022 |website=Forsvaret |language=da |archive-date=18 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018172434/https://karriere.forsvaret.dk/karriereveje/militar-karriere/karriere-i-hjemmevarnet/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Denmark is a long-time supporter of international [[peacekeeping]], but since the [[NATO bombing of Yugoslavia]] in 1999 and the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] in 2001, Denmark has also found a new role as a warring nation, participating actively in several wars and invasions. This relatively new situation has stirred some internal critique, but the Danish population has generally been very supportive, in particular of the War in Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://riko.nu/gunnar-olesen-danmark-som-krigsnation-en-parentes-der-bor-lukkes/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215191400/http://riko.nu/gunnar-olesen-danmark-som-krigsnation-en-parentes-der-bor-lukkes/|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 February 2016|title=Denmark as a warring nation: A bracket that should be closed |first=Gunnar |last=Olesen |publisher=The council for international conflict resolution (RIKO) |date=7 September 2011 |language=da|access-date=1 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.information.dk/236879 |title=Danmark er en krisnation |first=Lasse |last=Lavrsen |publisher=Information |date=19 June 2010 |language=da |access-date=1 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225044756/http://www.information.dk/236879 |archive-date=25 February 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Danish Defence has around 1,400<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forsvaret.dk/FMN/Verdenskort/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227125607/http://forsvaret.dk/FMN/Verdenskort/ |archive-date=27 December 2007 |title=Forsvarsministerens Verdenskort |publisher=Ministry of Defense of Denmark |date=27 December 2007 |access-date=20 August 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> staff in international missions, not including standing contributions to [[Standing NRF Mine Countermeasures Group 1|NATO SNMCMG1]]. Danish forces were heavily engaged in the former Yugoslavia in the UN Protection Force ([[UNPROFOR]]), with [[IFOR]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Bosnia: What Every American Should Know |url=https://archive.org/details/bosniawhateverya00clar |url-access=registration |last=Clark |first=A.L.|year=1996 |publisher=Berkley Books |location=New York}}</ref> and now [[SFOR]].<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Bosnia-Herzegovina.htm |title=Bosnia-Hertsegovinia: The U.S. Army's Role in Peace Enforcement Operations 1995–2004 |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] |id=CMH Pub 70-97-1 |first=R. Cody |last=Phillips |location=Washington, D.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209001303/http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Bosnia-Herzegovina/Bosnia-Herzegovina.htm |archive-date=9 December 2013 }}</ref> Between 2003 and 2007, there were approximately 450 Danish soldiers in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2007/02/200852514261678446.html |title=Denmark follows UK Iraq pullout |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=21 February 2007 |access-date=20 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211081916/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2007/02/200852514261678446.html |archive-date=11 December 2012 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Denmark also strongly supported [[Operation Enduring Freedom|American operations]] in [[Afghanistan]] and has contributed both monetarily and materially to the [[International Security Assistance Force|ISAF]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2009/02/15/165853.htm |title=Danmarks Radio – Danmark mister flest soldater i Afghanistan |publisher=Dr.dk |date=15 February 2009 |access-date=5 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219224336/http://dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2009/02/15/165853.htm |archive-date=19 February 2009 |url-status=live  }}</ref> These initiatives are often described by the authorities as part of a new "active foreign policy" of Denmark.