Denmark will prioritise security and competitiveness during its upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union, a senior diplomat said on Tuesday.
Carsten Gronbech-Jensen, Denmark’s ambassador to the EU, told a think tank event in Brussels that growing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty would define Denmark’s six-month term, which begins on July 1.
He said Copenhagen would continue efforts to reduce bureaucracy, strengthen competitiveness and reduce dependence on external resources — priorities that have become even more relevant in light of the military conflict in Ukraine.
Denmark’s ambassador also touched on the issue of the green transition, saying it would remain a focus of the Danish presidency, both with a view to reducing fossil fuel use and strengthening the competitiveness of European industry.
Gronbech-Jensen also said that issues related to Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark that US President Donald Trump insists on annexing to the United States, would not fall within the remit of the Danish presidency and would be dealt with by the Foreign Affairs Council.
Earlier, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that Europe must rearm by 2030. According to Frederiksen, Denmark no longer considers itself part of the so-called “frugal four” of the European Union refering to an informal coalition opposed to expanding the political bloc’s budget spending.
