Denmark's planned referendum on its opt-outs from the European Union has been postponed, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in an interview published Friday.

"Due to the outcome of the Irish referendum the situation is so uncertain that it is no longer on the cards," Rasmussen told the Jyllands-Posten newspaper.

Rasmussen was referring to the recent rejection by Ireland of the Lisbon Treaty, adding that he still hoped Denmark could stage a referendum but said he was not sure if it could be done during the current term.

Denmark joined the European Union in 1973, but obtained opt-outs that include security and defence policy, justice and home affairs and the euro after voters initially rejected the Maastricht Treaty in a 1992 referendum.

"We still feel that the opt-outs harm Denmark," Rasmussen said, adding that there was need to "sort out the effects of the Irish vote."

Svend Auken, European affairs spokeman for the opposition Social Democrats, said the decision "was the right one."

"There is no point in a referendum until you know what happens to the Lisbon Treaty," Auken told TV2 News.

Auken said his party backs abolishing the opt-outs, as does the conservatives, junior partner in Rasmussen's minority government.