Danish EU presidency to prioritize security, competitiveness amid economic uncertainty

BRUSSELS

Denmark will prioritize security and competitiveness during its upcoming term in the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, a senior diplomat said.

Carsten Gronbech-Jensen, Denmark’s ambassador to the EU, told a think tank event in Brussels that growing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties will shape Denmark’s six-month term, set to start on July 1.

He said Copenhagen would pursue efforts to cut red tape, bolster competitiveness, and reduce dependency on external resources – priorities intensified by the war in Ukraine.

He also touched on the green transition, saying it would remain a central focus of the Danish presidency, both to reduce fossil fuel use and to foster a more competitive European industry.

Gronbech-Jensen also said issues related to Greenland – an autonomous Danish territory that US President Donald Trump insists should be American soil – would fall outside the Danish presidency’s scope and instead be handled by the Foreign Affairs Council.

On NATO’s pending new 5% of GDP defense spending target – set to face an up or down vote next week – he said European members of the alliance should take greater responsibility for their own defense, noting that many have failed to meet even the current 2% target.

Denmark will take over the presidency from Poland on July 1 and hold it through the end of the year.