For the first half of this year it is the turn of Denmark to take responsibility of the rotating presidency of the European Union.
On Sunday, the rotating duty went from Poland to the Scandinavian country of 5.6 million people, whose political scene is currently controlled by one of the few left-leaning governments in Europe. Experts say the responsibility comes with heavy baggage, including the ongoing and all-important euro debt crisis.
Euro powerhouses Germany and France are still being seen as leaders in debt crisis management, with the importance of the rotating EU presidency having dwindled with the creation of the European Council presidency via the Lisbon Treaty.
Ritzau news agency said in an article released on Sunday, “Politically, Denmark will have little impact on the aspect of European co-operation that, for now, is mainly attracting attention.” It went on to say, “Formally, Denmark cannot and should not resolve the euro crisis.”
However, Ritzau has praised efforts by Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Denmark’s Prime Minister, and Nicolai Wammen, the Danish European affairs minister, to help mediate issues dividing the 17 countries of the eurozone with the full 27-nation bloc.
Helle Thorning-Schmidt said in a statement on Sunday, “We will get involved so European countries, together, can control the economy and return to [healthy economic] growth. That is what is needed to recreate jobs in Europe,” AFP reports.
