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From January 1 2012, Denmark assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Presidency coordinates and prepares the work in the Council for the 27 governments in the EU. This entails that the Presidency sets the agenda, coordinate the negotiations between the countries’ ministers and creates compromises. As president for the Council, it is also Danish ministers that represent the EU in other international organisations such as the UN.
The Presidency is an opportunity for the Ministry of Social Affairs and Integration to influence the European agenda in areas important for the Danish government.
Danish priorities regarding social and integration policies
The economic crisis combined with the demographic development means that the EU faces great challenges in the social and integration areas. At the same time, we have to cope with high unemployment rates – with the risk of losing an entire generation outside the labour market – and a shortage of labour within a few years because of the ageing of the European population. The Danish priorities in the social and integration policy areas reflect this balance:
Social priorities:
- Active ageing and solidarity between the generations on how we can motivate the older generation to stay longer on the labour market and to live a healthy, autonomous and dignified life.
- Youth in education and on the labour market – including disabled and marginalised people.
- Promote equal opportunities for everybody and combating poverty.
Integration priorities:
- Strengthening democratic values, social coherence and intercultural understanding.
- Prevention of radicalisation and goal-oriented intervention targeted at anti-radicalisation.
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