Denmark to vote Thursday on euro currency.(Chicago Tribune)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark_Little Denmark seldom draws much attention to itself, but this week the eyes of all Europe are on it.

Danish voters will decide on Thursday whether to adopt the European single currency, the euro, and the outcome could_at least in the short term_affect international efforts to revive the anemic euro. The euro has been in steady decline since its launch in January 1999, and the United States and other world powers have come to recognize that a weak euro poses possible threats to the world economy. It adds to U.S. trade deficit problems by making European exports cheaper, and it contributes to inflation and interest-rate rises in Europe that could slow growth.

The major powers began last week spending billions to buy euros in a so far unsuccessful attempt to prop up the currency. A Danish "no" would deal at least a glancing psychological blow to this effort. Danes of all parties also say a no vote would have a big influence in neighboring Sweden, which is planning a referendum on the euro, and give encouragement to euroskeptics in Britain.

Denmark, Sweden …