01 Jul 2025
Denmark takes over EU Council Presidency
As of 1 July, Denmark has taken over, for the eighth time, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months. Its programme will work to ensure the EU takes responsibility for its own security while also strengthening its competitiveness and ensuring Europe’s green transition. The Presidency's motto is "A Strong Europe in a Changing World".
In the field of research and innovation, the Danish Presidency sees the need to focus on security, open strategic autonomy and increased European competitiveness, with the following issues in particular:
- Closing Europe’s innovation gap in critical technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, biotechnology, and space technology is essential;
- Creating an optimal framework for excellent research and innovation, while simultaneously encouraging cooperation between public and private sectors;
- EU must transfer more research into innovation focus on all parts of the value chain from fundamental (basic) research to innovation, commercialisation and scale up activities.
Key issues of the Danish Presidency will be working on the European Commission's proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (expected on 16 July 2025), including a Competitiveness Fund, and the proposal for the next framework programme and specific programme.