Under the motto “A Strong Europe in a Changing World,” Denmark assumes the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the second half of 2025. With a sharp focus on security, competitiveness, and green transition, Denmark’s leadership will steer EU efforts in an increasingly volatile global landscape.

Responding to growing geopolitical threats, the Danish Presidency will prioritize building a resilient European defence. Supporting Ukraine remains a key commitment, with efforts to enhance military and civilian aid through initiatives like EUAM and EUMAM Ukraine. The Presidency will work to streamline defence procurement, bolster industrial cooperation, and integrate Ukraine’s defence sector into the European framework. EU defence ambitions will also include finalizing negotiations on the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP), implementing the ReArm Europe plan, and ensuring progress on the EU’s White Paper on Defence Readiness, as well as building upon the Defence Simplification Omnibus Package. Cooperation with NATO, defence supply chain resilience, and preparedness for hybrid threats will be central themes. Moreover, Denmark will drive the EU’s Preparedness Union Strategy, emphasizing civil-military collaboration and building a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches.

With economic competitiveness in mind, Denmark aims to strengthen labour markets by supporting upskilling, fair movement of workers, and safe working conditions. The Presidency will promote key EU initiatives including the European Semester, the Quality Jobs Roadmap, and the European Pillar of Social Rights. The role of social dialogue will be emphasized, as Denmark seeks to deepen cooperation between governments and social partners.

Promoting gender equality and combating violence against women represents also a top priority. The Danish Presidency will continue implementing the EU’s Gender Equality and LGBTIQ Strategies, and support new initiatives aimed at inclusive opportunity across Member States. Addressing gender-based violence and engaging men and boys in building equality will be key to lasting progress.

EUROMIL welcomes the Danish Presidency’s ambitious and wide-ranging agenda. In particular, we underline the importance of involving military personnel not only in defence-related policy areas, but also in broader social dimensions, including labour rights, working conditions, and gender equality. A comprehensive approach that ensures the well-being, inclusion, and fair treatment of military personnel is essential to building a truly resilient and capable European defence.

The official website of the Presidency is available here.