The 2012 Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union: Bridging Exclusion

In: Journal of common market studies: JCMS, Band 51, Heft Supplement S1, S. 70-79

Abstract

Holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Union (EU) is a challenging task for any Member State, but in the context of the global financial and eurozone crisis, the perceived decline of EU influence in the world and the growing resentment of EU citizens to austerity measures, the 2012 Danish Presidency was always going to be particularly difficult. As the remark from French President Nicolas Sarkozy to newly elected Danish prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt during the European Council meeting around 2 a.m. on Friday 9 December 2011 suggests, the Danish Presidency began early and in considerable difficulty (Gardner, 2012). Adapted from the source document.