Europe is wonderful in Copenhagen

Like many other EU members, Denmark has a history of senior politicians moving from national to European-level politics.

The best known example is Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, currently president of the Party of European Socialists (PES). After eight years as prime minister of Denmark (1993-2001), he made the move in 2004 from the Danish parliament to Brussels, winning the highest number of personal votes ever in a Danish European Parliamentary election (407,966).

Recently another pattern has developed. On 1 January, former European commissioner Ritt Bjerregård was sworn in as the newly elected Mayor of Copenhagen, bucking the stereotype that a move to European- level politics is the last step before retirement.

The example reinforces a trend in Danish politics whereby more and more young political stars see a stint in Brussels as valuable experience before returning to national-level politics. In 2004, MEP Helle Thorning Schmidt returned to Copenhagen from Brussels to assume leadership of the main opposition party, the Social Democrats. Going the other way, Anders Samuelsen, who has been tipped as a future leader of the Danish Social Liberal Party, made the move to Brussels last year to become his party's representative at a European level, as an ALDE MEP.

Samuelsen is confident his new position as party chairman at the European level is a step up from his previous role in Denmark, where his party remains outside the ruling coalition. Nor does he feel that his move to Brussels left him out of touch with his party at the national level. He frequently visits Denmark and when that is not possible he participates in party meetings via video-conferences.

Questioned about the value of their experience in Brussels, Rasmussen, Bjerregård and Samuelsen emphasise the value of Danish politicians understanding the 'vibe' of European politics and its legal mechanisms. This is extremely important, according to Bjerregård, as the EU affects roughly half the legislation adopted at the national level. Other analysts put the figure even higher.

The story of Thorning Schmidt, an MEP in 1999- 2004, suggests there could be advantages in using Brussels as a political arena. A relatively unknown Schmidt won leadership of the Social Democrats in April 2005, on a promise to pull it towards the centrestage of politics, change the party's image as rigid and ruled from the top and restore its electoral appeal. Following a disappointing failure in February 2005's elections, a majority of party members preferred Brussels- bred Schmidt to a more traditional Leftist candidate for the party's leadership.

Schmidt's case shows how Brussels can act as an incubator for rising politicians promoting reform of their parties. Tucked safely away in Brussels they are prevented from meddling too much in the parties' national debate until the political wind changes and they are needed back home.

Danish national politics are clearly benefiting from the EU, but the benefits go both ways. Bjerregård says her experience of minority governments in Denmark, where she was a minister between 1973-81, proved valuable while she was working as a commissioner in charge of environment, nuclear safety and civil protection.

Perhaps more importantly, European-level politics and leading Danish politicians benefit by association with one another, which in turn raises the profile of European politics among the public. According to Bjerregård, her position as European commissioner allowed her to play an ongoing role in Denmark's national politics, as well as helping to make the workings of the European Commission more visible for Danes.

Lykke Friis, a leading commentator on Danish- EU affairs, suggests it will be interesting to see if Rasmussen's appointment as president of the PES will raise the profile of the European Parliament, which until now has struggled to capture attention in Denmark. Although satisfied with his level of personal coverage, Rasmussen concedes that the Danish public and media are yet to recognise the importance of the European Union. He has made this a priority of his mandate as an MEP and president of the European Socialists.

Finally, the EU stands to benefit through empathy. Anders Samuelsen says he laments the tendency of national politicians to use Europe as a scapegoat for their country's problems or for some controversial decisions that they need to take. Perhaps when he returns to Christiansborg he will think twice before doing so himself.

• Joel Malan is a freelance journalist based in Copenhagen.

Article takes a look at Denmark's history of senior politicians moving from national to European-level politics.