Ole Krarup — Danish law professor and European Parliamentarian

Academic career and expertise

Krarup was professionally trained in the law and is remembered primarily as a professor who taught and wrote on legal matters while engaging in public debate. As an academic at the University of Copenhagen he was involved in teaching, mentoring and research. His background in law shaped how he approached questions of civil liberties, institutional power and the legal dimensions of European cooperation. Colleagues and observers noted that his scholarly training informed his scrutiny of EU institutions and legislation.

Service in the European Parliament

From 1994 until 2006 Krarup was elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing the People's Movement against the EU. In parliament he associated with the European United Left – Nordic Green Left group and was a member of its bureau. His committee assignments included the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) and the Committee on Budgetary Control, where he took part in debates on fundamental rights, police and judicial cooperation, and oversight of EU spending. These committee roles reflected both his legal interests and his concern for how European-level decisions affected national sovereignty and citizen rights. For more detail about parliamentary committees see Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.

Accident, resignation and later life

In 2006 Krarup was involved in a traffic accident while cycling in Strasbourg, where the European Parliament holds sessions. The injuries and subsequent medical issues led him to announce his resignation; he formally stepped down as an MEP on 1 January 2007. After leaving active parliamentary duties he remained a noted voice in Danish discussions about the EU and continued to be referenced for his legal perspective on questions of sovereignty, civil liberties and institutional accountability.

Death and legacy

Ole Krarup died on 7 October 2017 in Copenhagen from complications of pneumonia at the age of 82. His career is often recalled for the combination of academic authority and political commitment: a law professor who translated legal concerns into parliamentary scrutiny, particularly in debates about the reach of EU institutions. While opinions about his eurosceptic stance varied, historians and commentators point to his role in keeping legal questions and civil‑liberties issues visible in Danish and European debates.

Roles and notable facts

• Born in Aarhus and later based in Copenhagen, Krarup combined university scholarship with public life.
• Served as an MEP from 1994–2006 for the People's Movement against the EU, sitting with the European United Left – Nordic Green Left.
• Worked on the Parliament's civil‑liberties and budgetary control committees, applying legal analysis to policy oversight.
• Resigned following a cycling accident in Strasbourg and subsequently remained a public commentator until his death.

For further general context about European parliamentary groups, committees and Danish euro‑sceptic movements see related institutional summaries and overviews at People's Movement, European Union resources or the European Parliament's materials on membership and roles.