Denmark takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, July 2002

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Publication Date 02/07/2002
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The Danish Presidency of the European Union got under way on 1 July 2002 with a visit by the European Commission to Copenhagen. As Denmark took over the EU helm from Spain, the twenty European Commissioners met with Danish government ministers to discuss the overall objectives for the Presidency as well as more specific action in each policy area.

Under the motto 'One Europe' the Danish Presidency will focus on the enlargement of the European Union with the final negotiations due to take place in December 2002 at the European Council Summit in Copenhagen. Indeed, the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen's catchphrase for the Presidency is 'from Copenhagen to Copenhagen' to signify that when Denmark last had the Presidency in 1993, they hosted a summit in the Danish capital where the conditions for accession to the EU were defined and they now have the opportunity to conclude enlargement negotiations with 10 candidate countries. A successful conclusion of negotiations with these countries should enable them to become EU members in 2004. However, the whole enlargement process is threatened by the Irish referendum of the Nice Treaty and an agreement on agricultural negotiations. Yet, the Danes clearly recognise the need for a successful conclusion of the enlargement negotiations and as Anders Fogh Rasmussen noted in his opening speech of the Presidency:

'We must take this historic opportunity to reunite the Europe that was earlier divided. To create one Europe. It is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss'.

Certainly, failure to complete enlargement negotiations by December 2002 could lead to a long postponement of the EU's expansion. With internal reforms and a European constitution set to dominate the agenda in 2003 and 2004 and heated debates likely over the next budget in 2005 and 2006, it could be 2007 before enlargement is top of the agenda again.

In addition to the huge challenge of completing enlargement the Danes have outlined a number of other areas where they are keen to make progress during their presidency. These include:

  • Freedom, security and justice: The Danish Presidency is keen to implement the EU Action Plan to combat international terrorism and to encourage joint initiatives in the area of police and criminal justice cooperation. The Danes are also keen to follow up the agreement made under the Spanish Presidency on joint concrete action in asylum and immigration, includingincreased border controls.
  • Sustainable development: The Danish Presidency believes a number of measures must be taken to ensure a strong and competitive European economy now that the euro is a reality. It calls for collective efforts to get more people into work and to secure a durable economy while avoiding harmful tax competition and tax avoidance, so that the welfare required when there are larger numbers of older people is still affordable. The Danes are also keen to strengthen competition and the individual's free choice between liberalisation and consistent implementation of the internalmarket. They also recognise that a good environment and a good economy are interdependent and they are therefore calling on all EU Member States to help turn the objective of sustainable development into practical results both in the EU and worldwide.
  • Safe food: 'Food safety from farm to fork' is one of the priorities of the Danish Presidency as is the need to develop the common agricultural policy in a more market-oriented and greendirection. The Danes will also focus on the need for a new fisheries policy, which both takes the necessary account of fishermen's interests and ensures that in the future therewill still be enough fish in the sea.
  • Global responsibilityThe Danish Presidency is keen to strengthen Europe's active role in the world, particularly in the fight against terrorism. The Danes will also focus on the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be held in Johannesburg in August 2002 where they plan to work purposefully for the conclusion a global deal that encompasses both concrete progress and mutual obligations. They will also host a ASEM 4 summit meeting in Copenhagen on 5-6 September 2002, where they will seek to strengthen relations between Asia and Europe.

During the course of the Presidency 180 meetings will take place around Denmark, including a number of informal ministerial meetings. In addition there will be two European Council sessions, the first of which will take place in Brussels on 24 and 25 October 2002 to be followed by the second European Council summit in Copenhagen in December 2002 when 13 candidate countries will also participate in discussions. Due to Danish opt-outs, Denmark will hand the Presidency over to the President to Greece, which is the next Member State to hold the EU Presidency, during any negotiations on defence issues.

Clearly the Danes have a busy and challenging six months ahead of them before they hand the EU Presidency over to Greece on 1 January 2003. Nearly a decade ago their stint at the EU helm was noted for getting enlargement under way, now they have a chance to register a historic EU presidency by concluding negotiations with 10 candidate countries.

Links:

Danish Presidency of the European Union:

European Sources Online: Financial Times:

BBC News Online:

European Commission:

European Sources Online: Topic Guides

  • Enlargement of the European Union

European Sources Online: In Focus

  • Progress on enlargement, November 2001

Helen Bower
Compiled: Tuesday, 2 July 2002

The Danish Presidency of the European Union got under way on 1 July 2002 with a visit by the European Commission to Copenhagen
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