BRUSSELS, Belgium – The Danish Presidency takes place at a time when the world is changing. As of Tuesday, July 1, 2025, the Danish EU Presidency began.
The Danish government has chosen two main priorities for the presidency, which we look forward to delivering on: a safer Europe, including stronger management of migration to the EU and continued support for Ukraine, and a competitive and green Europe. The presidency will last until the end of the year.
The EU finds itself in a new geopolitical landscape with rising level of conflict and increased global competition. The EU’s competitiveness must be strengthened so that European companies can compete globally and jobs are created and maintained in Europe.
This forms the backdrop when minister for employment Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen hosts EU employment ministers on 7-8 July in Aalborg.
A qualified workforce with the right skills is crucial to ensure a competitive Europe. There is a need for a strong focus on up-skilling and re-skilling. Avoiding unnecessary burdens from EU regulation is also an important aspect of strengthened competitiveness. Therefore, the Danish Presidency will focus on how the EU can contribute to simple and effective regulation in the labour market field for the benefit of businesses and citizens. Access to qualified labour with decent conditions is also crucial for a competitive Europe.
In Aalborg, EU employment ministers will discuss ways to ensure that free movement within the EU takes place on fair terms. Former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta will hold a keynote speech as part of this discussion.
Unfair working conditions put both the individual worker and the labour markets in the EU member states under pressure. This applies not least to posted third-country nationals, who are generally more exposed to breaches of working conditions, etc. In this context, it is crucial that existing rules are enforced correctly and effectively.
At the meeting in Aalborg, EU employment ministers will share national experiences on this and, among other things, discuss how digital solutions can help strengthen control and counter social dumping. The conclusions from the meeting will contribute to the Commission’s preparation of a forthcoming Mobility Package, which aim to contribute to fairer mobility in the EU.
The social partners play a crucial role in translating these – and other – themes into concrete results. To highlight this, EU employment ministers will visit Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, where the collaboration between employees and employers will be demonstrated in practice.
