Denmark took over the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July. Vera Spyrakou writes that at a time when Europe faces mounting challenges, Denmark’s presidency must aim to bridge divides between the EU’s member states.
From 1 July to 31 December, Denmark will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Danish presidency comes at a pivotal moment for the European project – a time when unity, resilience and shared responsibility are more necessary than ever.
The EU today finds itself navigating an increasingly complex and contested international order. Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, renewed strategic competition between global powers, the continuing climate emergency, the digital revolution, and widening social inequalities together form a polycrisis that tests Europe’s institutional capacity and political cohesion.
In such turbulent times, Denmark’s presidency has both an opportunity and an obligation: to reinforce Europe’s unity, strengthen its capacity for collective action and show that the EU is able not only to adapt to crises but to draw strength from them.
Security and responsibility
One of the central expectations placed on Denmark’s presidency is to maintain Europe’s focus on security and defence in an era of fragile alliances and renewed threats. Recent years have demonstrated that the EU must not take its security architecture for granted. The Russian invasion of Ukraine exposed the urgency of European strategic autonomy and the need to close the credibility gap between ambition and capability.
Denmark, with its long-standing tradition of pragmatic diplomacy and its strong Atlantic ties, is uniquely positioned to act as a bridge builder. It can facilitate difficult debates on how the EU can shoulder more responsibility for its own defence while maintaining close cooperation with NATO.
Denmark’s presidency is likely to support efforts to deepen EU-NATO coordination, push forward work on joint procurement and defence investment, and explore ways to strengthen Europe’s technological and industrial base in critical areas, such as cybersecurity and energy security. In this sense, Denmark’s presidency must not only react to crises but help shape the EU’s ability to deliver on its collective security promises and become another brick in the wall of European stability.
Stability and trust
One of Denmark’s core priorities is clear: safeguarding Europe’s security in an era of shifting alliances and renewed threats. Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defence and demonstrate that it can act with resolve and foresight. Denmark’s experience as a pragmatic, consensus-building member state, with strong transatlantic ties and a commitment to European values, positions it well to foster agreements on sensitive issues. These include joint defence investments, deepening EU-NATO cooperation and advancing Europe’s technological and industrial capabilities.
At the same time, Denmark’s presidency can demonstrate that Europe’s strength does not lie in military assets alone but in its democratic institutions, the rule of law and its citizens’ enduring trust in the European project. In times of crisis, these fundamentals must be protected and strengthened.
Denmark’s presidency will also focus on ensuring that Europe remains competitive and sustainable in a fast-changing global economy. The green transition – a priority for Denmark at home – is positioned as a cornerstone of Europe’s economic resilience and security.
Balancing climate ambition with economic growth and social cohesion will not be easy, but it is vital. Under Danish leadership, the Council will need to advance key legislative files that move Europe closer to its 2050 climate neutrality goals while ensuring that the green transition delivers tangible benefits to citizens, communities and businesses alike. Denmark’s own record as an innovator in clean energy and sustainability can inspire credible pathways for the EU to lead by example, showing that economic strength and environmental responsibility can and must go hand in hand.
Europe’s unity – delivering in times of crisis
Denmark’s presidency comes at a time when European citizens expect the EU to act decisively and deliver tangible results. Recent Eurobarometer findings show that public trust in the EU remains high when citizens perceive the Union as capable of protecting them from crises, whether security threats, pandemics or economic shocks.
In this regard, Denmark’s presidency carries a responsibility to keep the spirit of unity alive. The challenges of the next six months are not limited to institutional negotiations in Brussels. They also involve reinforcing the narrative that Europeans are indeed “stronger together”.
At the core of this ambition is the idea that Europe’s strength lies not only in economic figures or geopolitical weight but in shared democratic norms, the rule of law, social cohesion and an active citizenry. By facilitating agreements that bridge national interests and by encouraging a sense of common purpose, Denmark can help demonstrate that European integration remains a dynamic project capable of adapting and responding even in turbulent times.
Expectations from European cooperation
Member states, institutions and citizens alike will look to Denmark’s presidency for steady, pragmatic leadership. In this sense, the presidency is more than a technical role – it is a test of Europe’s ability to navigate its structural asymmetries and balance intergovernmental negotiation with supranational ambition.
The presidency also reminds us that the EU’s strength derives from its ability to rotate leadership while maintaining continuity. Smaller states, like Denmark, have often shown that they can play an outsized role in forging compromises, advancing critical legislation and pushing forward a collective vision.
In the broader context of European political debate, Denmark’s presidency can also serve as a moment of reflection on the future architecture of European governance. How can the EU remain united and effective when faced with crises that transcend borders? How can it better involve citizens in shaping collective priorities? And how can the balance between national sovereignty and shared governance evolve without eroding democratic legitimacy?
These are questions that connect directly to deeper debates about European identity and democratic resilience. They are questions that have gained new urgency in the aftermath of the Conference on the Future of Europe and recent calls for treaty reform.
Stronger together
The motto of Denmark’s presidency is “A Strong Europe in a Changing World”. It signals that, despite fragmentation and doubt, the European Union remains committed to facing challenges collectively, step by step. It also underlines that European cooperation must be renewed continuously, not just through treaties and institutions but through shared political will and civic trust.
In this sense, Denmark’s six-month term is an opportunity to demonstrate that Europe’s future lies in acting with unity and purpose. It is a reminder that the EU’s resilience depends as much on its capacity for practical problem-solving as on its ability to inspire confidence in its citizens – and a reminder that Europe can indeed match words with action.
A turning point?
Denmark’s presidency comes at a time when Europe must look ahead to shape its future architecture. Many of the debates that Denmark will help to steer – on strategic autonomy, fair and sustainable growth, the digital and green transitions, and the safeguarding of democracy – will influence Europe’s capacity to remain united and credible on the global stage.
The next six months will show whether the EU can translate collective ambition into tangible policies that strengthen citizens’ trust and renew the European promise of solidarity, prosperity and peace. What makes this presidency especially significant is not only its policy agenda but its symbolic potential. At a time when the European project faces questions about its ability to deliver, the Danish Presidency can help to bridge divides and remind citizens and member states alike that the Union’s greatest asset is its capacity to act together.
Recent Eurobarometer surveys show that Europeans continue to look to the EU to protect them – whether from security threats, economic shocks or climate risks. Citizens’ trust increases when they see Europe delivering concrete results. Denmark’s role, therefore, is not just to chair meetings and broker compromises but to ensure that the promise of “stronger together” is felt in practice.
A successful presidency will require careful navigation of national interests while promoting a spirit of compromise and shared responsibility. This is the essence of the EU’s rotating presidency – that even small and medium-sized member states can lead by example, proving that European unity is not a rhetorical ideal, but a practical method for confronting shared challenges.
Note: This article gives the views of the author, not the position of EUROPP – European Politics and Policy or the London School of Economics. Featured image credit: European Union
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