Domestic Politics

Denmark has been a constitutional monarchy since its first constitution of 1849. Legislative power is jointly exercised by the Crown and Parliament. Parliament consists of one chamber, called the Folketing. Its 179 members are elected by proportional representation for four years. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Queen, but is accountable to Parliament. The ministers are appointed by the Queen in consultation with the Prime Minister.

Foreign policy

Denmark has been a member of the European Union since 1973. It has opted out, however, of intergovernmental EU decisions on economic and monetary union (EMU), common defence policy, justice and home affairs and Union citizenship. Denmark is a loyal NATO member and was a founding member of the United Nations in 1945.

Economy

Denmark has a small, open economy, in which foreign trade plays an important role. About two-thirds of this foreign trade is with other EU countries.

Although Denmark opted out of EMU, its economic policy has been influenced by European agreements in recent years. The Danish government hopes to satisfy the monetary criteria for joining EMU. Agriculture, which used to dominate the Danish economy, now accounts for only 3.9%. The service sector is the most important (42%), followed by the public sector (27.7%) and industry (15.6%).

Per capita GDP: EUR 26 926 (in 2001 in purchasing power parities; source: Eurostat)

Links

Source: Dutch EU Presidency 2004