Hard sell in Danish euro vote

Nyrup Rasmussen admits his government may not win a "yes" vote

By Robin Oakley, CNN.com European Political Editor

COPENHAGEN, Denmark -- Trying to sell your nation on the idea of joining a currency, which has dropped a quarter of its value against the dollar in just 20 months, is not easy.

Indeed when CNN.com asked Denmark's prime minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen if his government was popular enough to secure a yes vote on Thursday's poll on whether to join the single European currency just on its reputation his response was candid.

VIDEO The EU's Jens-Peter Bonde discusses Denmark's plan to adopt the Euro, with CNN.com's Robin Oakley Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

"Probably not."

With only days to go, the result sits on a knife-edge, the latest Gallup poll showing 46 percent wanting to reject the euro and 42 percent in favour of joining.

At his party conference Rasmussen, charts at the ready, argued that the kroner too was falling against the dollar.

He sought to reassure pensioners about their savings and insisted the Danes high-cost welfare state would not be at risk in the euro.

The leader of opposition Venstre party Anders Fogh Rasmussen is equally adamant that Denmark's place is in the euro.

"Our main argument in favour of a yes is the question of influence. In our opinion, Denmark, as a small country, will gain influence by getting a seat at the table where important decisions are made."

But those campaigning to keep Denmark out of the euro say it is the political arguments, not the economic ones that matter. They do not want another step towards federalism.

Paul Christensen of the People's Movement Against the EU says he feels European as well as Danish but here are larger issues at stake.

"There are differences among the Europeans, and we want to keep those differences. We don't want us all to be alike. Its not a problem for us to co-operate with other people, we just want to co-operate in another way than the EU does."

For Denmark, this referendum is not just about whether to join the single European currency. It is about the sovereignty and individuality of a small country.

What worries many Danes is that while they might gain greater economic security, they could be putting at risk other things, such as their generous, and expensive welfare state, that they hold dear.

'No' vote holds its lead in Denmark
September 25, 2000
Gloves come off ahead of Danish euro vote
September 21, 2000
More than money -- Denmark and the euro
September 20, 2000
IMF offers bleak assessment of the euro
September 20, 2000

European Union: Euro
Danish Parliament (in Danish)
Danish Economic Council
People's Movement Against the EU

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