The United Kingdom and Denmark today (Thursday 8 February 2024) signed a treaty ensuring British and Danish nationals the right to stand for and vote in each other’s local elections.
If the agreement is ratified, British nationals living in Denmark and Danes living in the UK will have the right to choose their local government representatives in their country of residence.
The treaty was signed on 8 February 2024 at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Copenhagen by Emma Hopkins, British Ambassador to Denmark, and Nicolai Stenfork, Director of the Danish Ministry of Home Affairs and Health.
In a joint statement, British Ambassador to Denmark Emma Hopkins and Danish Ambassador to the UK Rene Dinesen said:
We are pleased to have reached this agreement on voting rights between the UK and Denmark. This will strengthen and protect the rights of the approximately 50,000 people living in each country’s countries to participate in local democracy.
An important outcome of the UK-Danish Joint Statement signed by the Foreign Secretary last year, this treaty demonstrates the close relationship between our two countries and underlines our shared commitment to democracy.
Denmark becomes the fifth country to sign a voting rights agreement with the UK, following treaties with Poland, Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg.