Anders Fogh Rasmussen at Davos in 2008 Anders Fogh Rasmussen , the Prime Minister of Denmark, said on Tuesday that he will seek broad parliamentary support for a national referendum on joining the euro , the common currency of the Eurozone . Berlingske Tidende is reporting that Rasmussen is meeting with political leaders to negotiate support for the referendum. In 1992, Danish voters rejected the Maastrict Treaty in a referendum . It was only able to pass the following year after the Edinburgh Agreement granted Denmark an opt-out of the third stage of the Economic and Monetary Union of the European Union (EMU). In 2000, Denmark again rejected the common currency in a euro referendum . The current currency of the Scandinavian country is the Danish krone . As part of stage two of the EMU, the exchange rate of the krone is allowed to fluctuate within a ±2.25\% range to the euro. In order to maintain this peg Danmarks Nationalbank, the central bank ,  adjusts interest rates and performs foreign exchange operations by buying and selling currency. To do this, Danmarks Nationalbank has had to raise rates twice, even as other central banks, including the European Central Bank (ECB), were lowering rates to deal with the current economic crisis . Euro banknotes As a result, interest rates in Denmark are now 175 basis points higher than the ECB's rates. As recently as May, the difference was only 25 basis points. Rasmussen heads the Venstre party which leads a minority coalition government. The main opposition party, the Social Democrats , also support adopting the euro as the nation's currency. Rasmussen has said he wants a referendum put before voters before 2011. His government had originally planned to hold a referendum this past September to abolish the EMU opt-outs, but that was scrapped when Ireland voted down the Treaty of Lisbon . On October 30, while in Stockholm , Sweden, Rasmussen said: "The euro ensures political and economical stability in Europe and the current financial turmoil makes it evident that Denmark has to join the Euro." Analysts consulted by Berlingske Tidende have said that an endorsement from the Socialist People's Party (SF) could prove to be the tide-turner. "If there was a vote, then I would vote Yes. But I am of the opinion that it is stupid to hold a vote unless we first have a real debate. We haven't had a debate in eight years and all arguments need to be tested," said Margrete Auken of SF. 
Anders Fogh Rasmussen at Davos in 2008 , the Prime Minister of Denmark, said on Tuesday that he will seek broad parliamentary support for a national referendum on joining the , the common currency of the . is reporting that Rasmussen is meeting with political leaders to negotiate support for the referendum. In 1992, Danish voters rejected the in a . It was only able to the following year after the granted Denmark an opt-out of the third stage of the (EMU). In 2000, Denmark again rejected the common currency in a . The current currency of the country is the . As part of of the EMU, the exchange rate of the krone is allowed to fluctuate within a ±2.25\% range to the euro. In order to maintain this peg , the , adjusts interest rates and performs foreign exchange operations by buying and selling currency. To do this, Danmarks Nationalbank has had to raise rates twice, even as other central banks, including the European Central Bank (ECB), were lowering rates to deal with the . Euro banknotes As a result, interest rates in Denmark are now 175 higher than the ECB's rates. As recently as May, the difference was only 25 basis points. Rasmussen heads the which leads a minority coalition government. The main opposition party, the , also support adopting the euro as the nation's currency. Rasmussen has said he wants a referendum put before voters before 2011. His government had originally planned to hold a referendum this past September to abolish the EMU opt-outs, but that was scrapped when Ireland voted down the . On October 30, while in , Sweden, Rasmussen said: "The euro ensures political and economical stability in Europe and the current financial turmoil makes it evident that Denmark has to join the Euro." Analysts consulted by have said that an endorsement from the (SF) could prove to be the tide-turner. "If there was a vote, then I would vote Yes. But I am of the opinion that it is stupid to hold a vote unless we first have a real debate. We haven't had a debate in eight years and all arguments need to be tested," said of SF. Sister links
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