UK and Denmark establish voting rights treaty
New agreement enhances and protects the rights of British and Danish citizens to stand and vote in local elections in each other’s countries.
His Majesty’s Ambassador to Denmark, Emma Hopkins and Nikolaj Stenfalk, Head of Division in the Office for Democracy of the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health, sign the UK-Denmark Voting Rights Treaty in Copenhagen. Photographer: Maria Pedersen
The UK and Denmark have today (Thursday 8 February 2024) signed a treaty that secures the rights of British and Danish citizens to stand and vote in local elections in each other’s countries.
Once ratified, this agreement will ensure that British people living in Denmark and Danish citizens living in the UK have the right to choose who represents them in local government in the country where they reside.
The treaty was signed by the UK’s Ambassador to Denmark, Emma Hopkins and Nikolaj Stenfalk of the Danish Ministry of the Interior and Health, on 8 February 2024 in the British Ambassador’s Residence in Copenhagen.
In a joint statement, British Ambassador to Denmark, Emma Hopkins and Danish Ambassador to the UK, René Dinesen said:
We are delighted to reach this agreement on voting rights between the UK and Denmark. This will enhance and protect the rights to participate in local democracy of approximately 50,000 citizens who reside in each other’s countries.
As an important outcome of the UK-Denmark Joint Statement signed by our Foreign Ministers last year, this treaty demonstrates the close ties between our countries and underlines our shared commitment to democracy.
Denmark is the fifth country to sign a voting rights treaty with the UK, following treaties signed with Poland, Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg.