Danes voted to keep their distance from the European Union, marking a blow to Brussels before heads of government meet to discuss British demands for a renegotiated relationship with the 28-member bloc.

Denmark will preserve an opt-out from EU justice and home affairs laws, with 53 percent of voters in favor of the status quo, while 47 percent back a shift to a flexible opt-in, according to a tally published by national broadcaster Danmarks Radio, with about 98 percent of votes counted.

“The result of the election is based on a general skepticism toward the EU,” said Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen.

David Fuller's view

“… a general skepticism toward the EU”?  I can’t imagine why!