Brussels, 14/05/2024: TEPSA has published a set of recommendations from its pan-European network to the incoming Danish Presidency of the Council, to be presented to representatives from the Danish government and researchers during the Danish Pre-Presidency Conference.

On 1 July 2025, Denmark will take over the Rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in a critical geopolitical context marked by a new Trumpian world order, the prospects of trade wars, and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

To discuss Denmark’s agenda for its incoming presidency, TEPSA Board Members Nicoletta Pirozzi (Istituto Affari Internazionali) and Richard Youngs (Carnegie Europe) have coordinated a set of recommendations among leading experts, including:

• “From outlier to driver in European defence policy”, written by Christine Nissen (Think Tank Europa)
• “Supporting Ukraine in the new international context”, written by Tyyne Karjalainen (Finnish Institute of International Affairs)
• “Charting the EU’s green transition: A call for pace and interconnectedness”, written by Federica Prandin (Finnish Institute of International Affairs)
• “Europe’s digital quest for competitiveness and sovereignty”, written by Seamus Allen (Institute of International and European Affairs)

The recommendations will be presented to representatives of the Danish government and researchers during the Danish Pre-Presidency Conference, taking place on 22 and 23 May 2025 in Copenhagen. The conference, co-organised by TEPSA and the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) in cooperation with Think Tank Europa, will feature prominent speakers, including Marie Bjerre, Danish Minister for European Affairs and Ambassadors Birgitte Markussen and Nicolai Ruge.

Commenting on the relevance of the Danish Presidency of the Council, TEPSA’s Executive Director Mariam Khotenashvili says, “Denmark takes over from Poland at a key moment when the foundations of robust European defence need to be built, transatlantic trade is heavily challenged, several clusters of negotiating chapters should be opened with Ukraine and Moldova, and deliberations will start in the Council on the post-2027 MFF legislation. Like Poland, Denmark has strong credentials as a security provider and a trading power. Its key challenge will be to manage transatlantic tensions (including as regards Greenland) while strengthening the EU’s capacity to act.”

Read the recommendations on our website.

Notes to editors

The Danish Pre-Presidency Conference, co-organised by TEPSA and DIIS in cooperation with Think Tank Europa, will be hosted in Copenhagen, on 22 and 23 May. Key panels will be livestreamed here.

For press enquiries and interview requests with our experts, including Richard Youngs, Seamus Allen, Federica Prandin, and Jim Cloos, please email Barbara Vanotti, TEPSA’s Communications Officer.