ABSTRACT
Denmark is, in many accounts, presented as a member state with serious reservations in relation to European foreign policy due to a sceptical view towards political integration in Europe (Larsen 1999). The four Danish exemptions, including one in the field of defence, are seen as central markers of a distant and sceptical attitude. It is the main argument of this chapter that this does not mean that Denmark is an outlier in most areas of European foreign policy. The dominant Danish understanding is that the EU is a central framework for the country’s foreign policy, and Denmark has supported the organizational strengthening of the EU foreign policy framework at the intergovernmental conferences after the Cold War. Although the defence opt-out has constrained the way Denmark has participated in the build-up of the ESDP, Copenhagen has supported the development of the EU as an actor in the field of security, albeit in a low-key manner. The degree of Europeanization of Danish foreign policy varies across policy areas, but the EU is undoubtedly the most important multilateral forum for Danish foreign policy
