Copenhagen - Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Wednesday said parliament was to hold a hearing on the joint European currency, the euro, in January.

"A broad group of parties support a hearing on the economic and monetary union," Rasmussen said, welcoming the decision.

The premier told parliament that there was an economic cost to be "outside" the eurozone and Denmark also had less say in the European Union.

Denmark has also tied its currency to the euro, he noted in an exchange with a legislator from the EU critical Danish People's Party that usually provides parliamentary backing to his minority government.

In 2000, a majority of Danish voters rejected replacing the krone with the euro.

Calls have increased for replacing the krone with the euro in the wake of the recent financial turmoil.

Rasmussen has earlier said he aimed to seek broad political backing in favour of a possible referendum, including the opposition Socialist People's Party that in 2000 opposed the euro.

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. (dpa)