Danish Ambassador visits Senedd to mark Denmark’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union
10 January 2012
Denmark’s Ambassador to the UK, Anne Hedensted Steffensen, visited the National Assembly for Wales today as Denmark begins its Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Member states take it in turns to hold the rotating presidency of the Council of Ministers, with Denmark taking over from Poland for its six-month term. The Presidency has two main tasks.
The first is to plan and chair the meetings in the Council of the EU and underlying bodies. Secondly, the Presidency represents the Council in its dealings with the other EU institutions, not least the Commission and the European Parliament.
Ms Steffensen visited the Senedd where she met with the Presiding Officer, Rosemary Butler AM, to outline the programme of the Danish Presidency.
“It is important that Wales has a strong voice in Europe” said the Presiding Officer.
“We have benefited, and continue to benefit, from European funding which is essential to boost many of our most deprived communities.
“In these tough economic times, it is more important than ever that Wales’s voice is heard.
“That’s why I’m delighted to welcome the Danish Ambassador to the Senedd in order to build links with the new EU Presidency so that Wales’s priorities are heard.”
During her visit the Ambassador also met with the Deputy Presiding Officer, David Melding AM and First Minister, Carwyn Jones AM.
She also met with the chairs of all the Assembly’s Committees. This is the first time that such a meeting has been convened to greet a foreign dignatory.
The Danish Government says one of its top priorities during the Presidency is tackling the Eurozone crisis and to develop a ‘more responsible Europe’.
This goal also includes progressing discussions in the Council on the future EU multi-annual budgetary framework for 2014-2020, with a view to an agreement being reached in the autumn under the Cypriot Presidency.
This is of particular importance to Wales as it will determine the level of future funding to EU Structural Funds, the Common Agricultural Policy and EU research and education programmes.
Ms Steffensen said she was pleased to have been given the opportunity to present the programme of the Danish EU Presidency in Cardiff.
She added that the return of growth and higher employment to all regions of Europe was a key priority of the Presidency.
“The Single Market is a cornerstone of EU cooperation,” said the Ambassador.
“The goal of the Danish Presidency is to contribute constructively to further developing the Single Market through a number of new initiatives.
“More than ever we need a sustainable Single Market that creates jobs and prosperity for European citizens and companies.”