Glossary
Opting out
Opting out is an exemption granted to a country that does not wish to join the other Member States in a particular area of Community cooperation as a way of avoiding a general stalemate. The United Kingdom, for instance, did not wish to take part in the third stage of economic and monetary union (EMU) and similar clauses were agreed with Denmark as regards EMU, defence and European citizenship. The Schengen acquis has similarly been adopted only partially, as Ireland, the United Kingdom and Denmark can decide on a case-by-case basis whether or not to participate fully or only partially in the planned measures.
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