DENMARK plans to hold a referendum in 1998 on the revised European treaty which was agreed in Amsterdam, according to the Danish Prime Minister, Mr Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.
He said it would be "1998 in my calendar" when the public vote was held.
Earlier this week, the Danish Economy Minister, Ms Marianne Jelved, said she believed the referendum could be held in February or March.
Mr Rasmussen did not elaborate on the reason for such a vote, but it is linked to the country's constitution which states that national powers may only be delegated to international organisations "within a specified limit".
Mr Rasmussen described the revised treaty in positive terms, saying it was "sympathetic", referring to new treaty language on the environment, employment and openness - all key Danish aims.
He would have preferred to see much more progress on institutional issues but did not expect that the lack of movement would delay eastern enlargement - another Danish priority.
He refused to be drawn on how he would convince the Eurosceptic Danes to approve the Treaty of Amsterdam.
Denmark's optouts had been respected in the new treaty, Mr Rasmussen said. Because of its optout from home and justice affairs, the country had special problems on proposals on common EU visa, asylum and immigration policies.
Danish political analysts believe there is little chance that the Danes would repeat their 1992 rejection of the Maastricht treaty, since the thorniest issues are covered by the exemptions granted to Denmark in Edinburgh later the same year.
Underlining the Eurosceptical attitudes of many Danes, a Danish court completed a hearing on Tuesday on a challenge to the legality of Denmark's EU treaties which legal experts say could end the country's EU membership under the present terms.