Danish EU presidency to prioritize security, competitiveness amid economic uncertainty

By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - 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.