|
|
|
|
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs
DENMARK IN THE EUROPEAN UNION Denmark has been an active member of the EU since 1973. Denmark has worked for an efficient and well functioning internal market, transparent decision-making, and clear and visible results for the individual citizens. In recent years Denmark has worked actively to see the greatest ever enlargement of the European Union succeed. As a result of the Danish referenda on the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 and 1993, Denmark has a number of opt-outs from participation in EU policies in the areas of monetary policy, defence and justice and home affairs. The European Union is a community of democracies based on shared values of human rights, democracy and a free market economy. As such, the European Union has succeeded in sustaining welfare and maintaining a peaceful Europe on a continent that was ravaged twice by great wars during the last century. The European Union has created a well-functioning internal market of goods, capital and labour. Denmark has been an active member of the EU since 1973. Denmark sets the standard in fast implementation of EU regulations into national legislation. We have the lowest number of infringement proceedings before the Court of Justice, and a tradition for public debate and transparent public administration that is reflected in our European policy. The EU must create clear and visible results for the individual citizen. Denmark has been working actively to see the enlargement of the European Union from 15 to 25 Member States succeed. The enlargement process is a vast project for peace and democracy. The European Union should also be an active neighbour beyond the perimeter of the current enlargement, for instance in the Baltic Sea Region. On the global scale as well, the EU is an important actor for peace and development. Denmark is actively helping reconstruction and stabilisation efforts for instance in the Western Balkans. As the world's biggest donor of development aid in relative terms, Denmark supports ambitious EU targets for development assistance and an active EU policy in this regard. As a result of the Danish referenda on the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 and 1993, Denmark has a number of opt-outs from its participation in EU policies: Denmark participates fully in the second stage of the EMU and its stability-oriented monetary and fiscal policy obligations. Denmark does not, however, take part in the third stage of the EMU: that is the euro and the single monetary policy. The Danish currency (the "krone") is linked closely to the euro via ERMII, in continuation of the present Danish fixed exchange rate policy. Denmark participates in the Common Foreign and Security Policy except for decisions and actions with defence implications. Denmark participates in the intergovernmental cooperation on justice and home affairs, for instance in the fight against terrorism, but is not involved in the supranational cooperation in this field. Denmark continues its strong involvement in the European Union while respecting the four opt-outs that resulted from the Danish people's decision in the two referenda.
CONTINUED EU ENLARGEMENT On 1 May 2004, the EU was enlarged with 10 new Member States – a milestone in European history. However, the enlargement process does not stop here. Bulgaria and Romania are next in line to obtain membership, probably in January 2007. At the end of 2004, the Commission will present its evaluation whether initiation of negotiations with Turkey on Turkish membership of the EU can be recommended. Also the countries of the Western Balkan have started a rapprochement process towards EU membership. With the enlargement of the EU with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe one of the most important goals of Danish foreign policy in recent years has been fulfilled. Since the beginning of the enlargement process Denmark has been one of the strongest advocates of the enlargement. Not least the perspective of a peaceful and cooperating Europe has been the basis of the active policy to promote the enlargement. Denmark played an important part in the enlargement process. During the Danish EU Presidency in 2002 the negotiations with the 10 negotiating candidate countries (Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary) were brought to a successful conclusion at the European Council in Copenhagen in December 2002. On 16 April 2003, all 25 present Member States in Athens at the foot of the Acropolis signed the Accession Treaty. Prior to the enlargement on 1 May 2004, the Accession Treaty was approved and ratified by all 25 countries.
The Enlargement Process Continues The European Council in Copenhagen in December 2002 made decisions that brought the candidate countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey a step closer to EU membership.
The European Council and the ten future Member States also agreed on the declaration “One Europe”, which expressed support for the continued enlargement process. At the European Council in Brussels in December 2003 the EU heads of state and government clarified that the EU’s common objective is to be able to close the accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania in 2004, that the two countries sign the accession treaty in 2005, and that the EU welcomes the two countries as members of the EU in January 2007. Concerning the countries in the Western Balkans, the EU in 2000 initiated the co-called Stability and Association Process. Its aim was to further the integration among the countries in the Western Balkans and in a longer perspective to create conditions for membership of the EU. In 2001 Croatia and Macedonia concluded concrete Stability and Association agreements with the EU as the first countries. In February 2003 Croatia submitted an application for membership, and Macedonia followed in March 2004. Although membership for these countries is not a realistic possibility in the near future, the applications are a proof of the countries’ positive development. In April 2004, The EU Commission published its formal opinion on Croatia’s application.
Conditions for Membership of the EU Before a country can obtain membership of the EU, it has to meet the so-called Copenhagen criteria laid down at the Copenhagen Council in June 1993.
At the start of the negotiations it is a prerequisite that the candidate countries fulfil the political criterion.
The Importance of the Enlargement The enlargement is not only to the benefit of the new Member States. The whole of Europe benefits greatly from it. The civil war in former Yugoslavia was a frightening example of how badly things can go when countries try to solve conflicts using violence instead of dialogue. The great upheavals in Central and Eastern Europe made it apparent that the countries had weak democratic institutions, minority problems and unsolved border issues, with an increased risk of instability and conflicts as a result. The enlargement process and the prospect of membership of the EU have been a contributory factor to the countries’ development into stable and peaceful democracies to the benefit and security of all Europe. In a globalised world, security is not only a question of avoiding war. Today, security is just as much about combating terrorism, international crime and environmental problems. All of these are transnational problems that affect the whole of Europe. These common problems are best solved by a united Europe. The EU and Denmark will also benefit economically by the enlargement. The economic advantage of the enlargement is a natural consequence of a larger market. New markets will appear and trade will increase among new and old Member States. Investments will become easier. Both aspects will contribute to raising the living standards of the populations of the new Member States. A development which will be to the benefit of Europe. DEALING WITH EU MATTERS IN DENMARK The purpose of the Danish EU Decision Making Process is to reach agreement on the Danish EU policy internally in Denmark as well as during the negotiations in Brussels. The process has two parts. A governmental part and a part related to the Danish Parliament’s European Committee. It calls for close collaboration between different branches of the administration in Denmark. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has the overall coordinating role. The laying down of the Government’s position has three levels. The aim is to conclude most cases at the level of the special committees. A special committee is composed of the ministries, departments and in many cases interest groups, which normally operate within the committee’s area of responsibility. The chairman is normally a civil servant from the ministry responsible for that particular field. Because of its coordinating role vis-à-vis EU questions the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is represented on all special committees The special committees identify the content and scope of EU proposals and suggest Danish positions both concerning specific proposals and in preparation for Council meetings. The EU Committee deals in particular with EU questions that have horizontal, fundamental or sensitive aspects. The Committee also deals with questions that cannot be solved in the special committees. The EU Committee meets when needed on Tuesdays in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs holds the chairmanship and secretariat. The ministries which are most deeply involved in EU matters are permanent members of the Committee. Other Ministries participate on an ad-hoc basis. The EU Committee prepares the discussions in the Government’s Foreign Policy Committee. The Government’s Foreign Policy Committee lays down on a political level the Government’s position in EU matters. The Chairman is the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In addition to the permanent members all other ministers are normally invited to the meetings. The Committee meets when needed on Thursdays. There is a special procedure with regard to the preparation of meetings in the European Council. These meetings are prepared by a group of state secretaries headed by the Prime Minister’s Office and are discussed in the Government’s Committee for the European Council and the future of the EU. The Government is obliged to consult with the Parliament’s European Committee in EU matters of essential importance. It further follows from the first report from the Committee in 1973 that “Prior to negotiations in the EC Council of Ministers on decisions of a wider scope, the Government submits an oral mandate for Negotiation to the Market Committee. If there is no majority against the mandate, the Government negotiates on this basis”. All political parties in the Folketing are represented on the European Committee in proportion to their number of parliamentary seats. Its meetings normally take place on Fridays and deal with all the Council meetings taking place in the following week. THE DANISH OPT-OUTS In Edinburgh in December 1992, the European Council adopted a declaration granting Denmark special status in relation to European co-operation, which in concrete terms gave Denmark opt-outs in four areas. The special status was approved by the Danish population in a referendum in 1993. The opt-outs concern the following areas:
The opt-outs and the Presidency The significance of the opt-outs for the Danish Presidency varies according to area: Opt-out: Defence Opt-out: Justice and home
affairs As there are no special provisions in the opt-out on justice and home affairs concerning how the Presidency should be exercised, the normal rules will apply. Opt-out: The euro As far as external relations in the euro/ECOFIN area are concerned, Denmark and Greece will continue to follow standard practice with regard to the division of responsibilities between ECOFIN and the euro group Presidencies. Protocol no. 5 on Denmark’s position, The Treaty on the European Union
|
|
|
