Denmark’s EU Presidency Delivers Key Wins Ahead of Cyprus Transition

As Denmark prepares to transition the presidency of the European Union to Cyprus on January 1, 2026, significant advancements have been made under its leadership. Marie Bjerre, Denmark’s European Affairs Minister, outlined the country’s achievements in key policy areas during an interview with Euronews, highlighting progress on simplification and migration.

Since taking over the rotating presidency on July 1, 2025, Denmark has focused on restoring the EU’s competitive edge against global powers like China and the United States. Bjerre emphasized that the Danish government set out to create a stronger Europe, particularly in terms of security, defence, and competitiveness.

Under its presidency, Denmark prioritized tackling what it termed “bureaucracy” and “over-regulation.” Bjerre noted, “We said from the beginning that we wanted a stronger Europe in terms of security and defence, and also competitiveness, which was the second theme. And we really managed also to deliver a result here.”

Progress on Simplification Packages

The European Commission proposed ten simplification packages, known as Omnibus proposals, aimed at reducing regulation across various sectors, including agriculture, defence, and digitalisation. According to Bjerre, three of these packages were successfully agreed upon with the European Parliament during Denmark’s presidency.

She expressed particular satisfaction that the Parliament approved the Omnibus I package earlier this month, which includes measures to reduce sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements. Bjerre stated, “This will ease the burdens on our companies, and it is a good first step for moving on and making it easier to do business in Europe, something we really need if we want to have better competitiveness in Europe.”

Bjerre addressed concerns raised by climate advocates regarding the potential weakening of key sustainability laws under the European Green Deal. She argued that enhancing the EU’s competitiveness is essential for effectively addressing climate challenges. “If we don’t strengthen our competitiveness, we will not be able to solve the climate challenges we are faced with,” she explained.

Shifts in Migration Policy

The Danish presidency also facilitated crucial discussions on migration policy, notably reaching an agreement on the “safe third country” concept. This framework allows for external processing in return hubs and advances the return of migrants. Bjerre stated, “This has also been part of our presidency priorities, and it is a part of making Europe more secure.”

Denmark’s previously controversial “hardline” immigration policies, often referred to as the Danish model, are now influencing broader EU policies. While Bjerre acknowledged that more countries are aligning with Denmark’s approach, she cautioned that challenges remain. “I can see that more and more countries agree with our approach in Denmark about this,” she noted. “But we still have a lot of problems. We still have conventions saying that we have to give criminal immigrants better protection than our own citizens.”

This comment refers to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which several EU nations, including Denmark, are advocating to reinterpret in order to facilitate the deportation of criminals and irregular migrants. Bjerre emphasized the importance of maintaining trust in democracy, stating, “If the convention and judges are making our laws instead of elected politicians, we will lose trust in our democracy.”

As Denmark prepares to pass the presidency to Cyprus, Bjerre expressed hope that the incoming leadership will continue to prioritize key European issues, particularly security, defence, and competitiveness. “I really hope that the Cyprus Presidency will do its best on this. I’m sure it will,” she concluded.