Analysis in Brief
- The Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union began on 1 July 2025 and will proceed until 31 December 2025. This is the eighth Presidency of Denmark in the Council.
- Copenhagen's priorities are akin to Polish ones – safety is the first priority.
- The top possible of cooperation between Denmark and Poland covers areas specified as security, defence, support for Ukraine, competitiveness and transition to energy independence.
- The Presidency is simply a major challenge for you both in organisational and political terms. The country acting as specified should act as an honest and impartial mediator, refraining from openly promoting its own interests.
Introduction
The Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union (Council; EU) began on 1 July 2025 and will last until 31 December 2025. This is the eighth Presidency of Denmark in the Council. For the first time, the presidency was held in 1973 and the last was held in 2012.
The main tasks of the Presidency are to plan and conduct meetings of the Council and its bodies and to represent the Council in relations with the another EU institutions. The Presidency State besides presents the alleged priorities to be pursued during the Presidency [1].
The motto of the Danish Presidency is, "A strong Europe in a changing world." Its 2 overarching priorities are (1) A safe Europe and (2) a competitive and green Europe [2].
Priorities of the Danish Presidency
We can learn from the Presidency's programme that Copenhagen will work for a strong and decisive EU that can take work for its own safety and is able to increase its competitiveness. According to the Danes, in order to accomplish this, the Union must adapt its actions to its own declarations and effectively address the challenges it faces. In their view, green transformation plays a key function in this process, which is the foundation of a safer and more competitive Europe [3].
Denmark besides intends to search to increase defence spending across the EU to strengthen its capacity to deter Russia. According to the Danish authorities, there is simply a real threat that Moscow may attack 1 of the NATO associate States, so, according to the State, the ability to effectively deter Russia should be achieved by 2030 at the latest [4].
Denmark besides plans to increase military and financial support for Ukraine. Copenhagen even proposed that selected Ukrainian arms companies decision their activities to the Union and carry out arms production there, which could then be transferred to the front [5].
On the authoritative website of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, a programme with the main directions of action is available depending on the composition of the Council. For example, the General Affairs Council (GAC) programme states that the Danish Presidency will be ambitious in promoting the enlargement process of the European Union and preparing the Community for this process through the essential interior reforms. Denmark plans to accelerate accession negotiations with Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkan countries [6].
The programme of the Environment Council (ENVI) announced that the Danish Presidency would place peculiar emphasis on the EU climate nonsubjective negotiations for 2040, supporting the EU to accomplish climate neutrality by 2050. In the global context, the Danish Presidency has announced its desire to guarantee that the EU paves the way for ambitious environmental, natural and climate policies, in peculiar as regards global negotiations within the framework of the UN Environment, Nature Conventions, Plastic Pollution, UN Climate Convention and COP30 [7].
The first informal ministerial gathering took place in Copenhagen on 18 July during the Competitiveness Council (COMPET). In addition, more than 300 events are planned, both authoritative and cultural. The Presidency is simply a major challenge for the state in organisational and political terms. The country must be an honest and impartial mediator. Nor can he openly present his own interests.
Synergies and challenges for Poland during the Danish Presidency
In any areas, the priorities of the Danish Presidency coincide with the interests of Poland, which creates opportunities for cooperation and synergies. Both Denmark and Poland consider safety as an absolute priority. During her Presidency, Poland powerfully emphasised defence, border protection and support of Ukraine. In the same way, Denmark stresses expanding the EU's ability to defend itself and make a common safety policy. This opens up the chance for Warsaw to strengthen cooperation with Copenhagen in defence, make joint industrial projects and strengthen its priorities in the European safety debate.
Both countries besides agree on the request for a complete departure from Russian energy imports and building European energy security. Poland initiated talks on diversification of energy sources, while Copenhagen focuses on the EU's green transformation and energy security.
Some interests of Poland and Denmark stay diverging, especially in climate, trade and economical matters. The Danish plan to actively engage in the work of setting a fresh climate mark for 2040 and in preparing the EU for the COP30 climate summit in Brazil. Poland, as a country with a higher share of coal than Denmark, is more cautious about the energy transition, seeking flexibility and additional support for regions and sectors peculiarly delicate to fast climate change. besides ambitious objectives of Denmark can deepen inequalities in economical improvement and put a financial burden on Polish companies and households. At the same time, the Danish imagination creates opportunities for Poland, which could benefit from regulatory simplifications, accelerated improvement and cheaper energy from RES, which in the long word could mean strengthening the competitiveness of the economy.
The more cautious position of Warsaw is besides evident in the full liberalisation of agri-food trade with Ukraine and another countries aspiring to the EU, mainly due to concerns about farmers' competitiveness. Denmark, on the another hand, looks at this process with greater optimism, treating enlargement and integration as an crucial geopolitical priority. Both countries support the simplification of bureaucracy, but Denmark may request more decisive action in this direction, following liberal economies. Poland, although favouring simplification, is willing to support solutions protecting its own marketplace and the agricultural sector [8] [9].
The top possible for cooperation between the 2 countries covers areas specified as security, defence, support for Ukraine, competitiveness and joint action for energy independence. The hazard of divergence concerns the pace of green transition, deregulation and certain aspects of agricultural policy.
How to calibrate Polish European policy during the Danish Presidency?
To maximise the usage of the half-year of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU, Poland should calibrate its European policy by actively exploiting the convergence of interests in the issue of safety and flexible, yet assertive, defence of key interests in the climate debate. It is crucial to participate in the planning and implementation of common military instruments, infrastructure projects strengthening the resilience of the region, and in the improvement of an EU safety policy for the east EU border. At the same time, cooperation with Denmark, the Nordic countries and the Baltic countries should be strengthened.
Poland should support the transition objectives, but clearly request rationalisation of costs, social interests and flexible implementation. Warsaw should besides actively request long-term financial support for regions and sectors that will be most affected by the transformation and search compromises that warrant greater time flexibility in achieving climate objectives.
Summary
Denmark covers the EU Presidency in a challenging time, in the face of a tense geopolitical situation, both in the region and in the world. Expectations towards the country are very high. This is an chance for Denmark to play a key function and to present itself as a liable and effective leader. Will the Danish Presidency usage the next fewer months for ambitious priorities? We'll know the answer at the end of the year.
However, it is already known present that Copenhagen intends to focus on concrete measures, from strengthening the safety and resilience of the Union to speeding up the green transition to supporting the enlargement process. In the face of a rapidly changing global reality, the success of the Danish Presidency will depend on the ability to build compromises and respond effectively to fresh challenges.
Bibliography
[1] Council of the European Union, Council of the European Unionfor: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/Council-eu/ [accessed 17.08.2025].
[2] Danish Presidency Council of the European Union, Prioritiesfor: https://danish-presidenty.consilium.europa.eu/en/programme-for-the-danish-eu-presidenty/priorities/ [accessed 17.08.2025].
[3] Ibid.
[4] Euronews, Denmark takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from Poland, for: https://en.eurnews.com/europa/2025/07/03/tasks-from-Polish-presidencies-in-Council-Union-European [accessed 17.08.2025].
[5] Ibid.
[6] Danish Presidency Council of the European Union, Programme of the Danish EU Presidencyfor: https://danish-presidenty.consilium.europa.eu/en/programme-for-the-danish-eu-presidenty/priorities/ [accessed 17.08.2025].
[7] Ibid.
[8] the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Priorities, for: https://polish-presidenty.consilium.europa.eu/en/programme/priority-presidencies/ [accessed 17.08.2025].
[9] Danish Presidency Council of the European Union, Prioritiesfor: https://danish-presidenty.consilium.europa.eu/en/programme-for-the-danish-eu-presidenty/priorities/ [accessed 17.08.2025].
