On 1 July, Denmark assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which it will hold until 31 December 2025. 

Denmark takes over the helm at a pivotal and challenging time for our Union. The EU is navigating a rapidly evolving global landscape characterised by geopolitical instability, strategic and economic competition, and mounting internal and external threats to its fundamental values. This evolving, volatile and unpredictable geopolitical environment presents a complex set of challenges for the EU but also a unique opportunity to reassert its role as a global economic and normative power.  

Under the motto “A strong Europe in a changing world”, the Danish Presidency is aiming to strengthen Europe’s security, competitiveness, and green transition. 

Achieving these goals will require a united front and sustained engagement from all pro-democratic actors. The European Movement International (EMI) stands ready to support the Danish Presidency and is offering the following guiding principles for the presidency: 

General Affairs: 

• Shape the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) to effectively address current and future challenges by significantly increasing the EU’s own resources;  

• Progress enlargement ambitiously as a geopolitical necessity by offering candidate countries credible prospects, while preparing the EU through essential internal reforms.  

Foreign Affairs:  

• Work towards a fully fledged European Defence Union (EDU), with security cooperation that extends far beyond joint procurement and shared defence budgets; 

• Maintain strong pressure on Russia by upholding existing sanctions and introducing new, targeted measures that effectively hit its energy exports;  

• Strengthen European strategic autonomy without compromising the EU’s partnership with the U.S. and advance transatlantic dialogue and mutual trust. 

Economic and Financial Affairs:  

• Enhance the EU’s common investment capacity and address fiscal constraints by completing the Savings and Investment Union, and enabling increased joint borrowing to meet current and future challenges.  

Justice and Home Affairs:  

• Acknowledge the increasing challenges faced by Member States, the EU must uphold a harmonised migration and asylum policy, firmly rooted in solidarity and cooperation, without undermining freedom of movement;  

• Strengthen democratic resilience by advancing the European Democracy Shield (EUDS) to promote media literacy, supporting free and trusted media, and effectively fight misinformation and disinformation.  

Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs:  

• Strengthen the EU’s social model by implementing the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) to ensure the security and safety of workers amidst the twin green and digital transition;  

Competitiveness:  

• Accelerate investment in key industries to strengthen strategic autonomy to reduce exposure to external shocks, and advance decarbonisation as a core pillar of Europe’s strategic autonomy;   

• Uphold environmental and social standards while simplifying regulations to ease the burden on businesses, without resorting to deregulation;  

Environment:  

• Rigorously implement the European Green Deal (EGD) as the cornerstone of the EU’s climate and competitiveness agenda, ensuring that environmental ambition goes hand in hand with strong social standards;  
• Firmly oppose any efforts to weaken or roll back existing climate policies, and advocate for an ambitious 2040 climate target that minimises the outsourcing of responsibilities. 

Please see our comprehensive set of proposals on how to deepen EU integration in a meaningful way here.