Albares discusses the challenges of Denmark's forthcoming European Presidency with the Danish Minister for European Affairs

Meeting between the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, and the Minister for European Affairs of Denmark, Marie Bjerre

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has met with the Danish Minister for European Affairs, Marie Bjerre, to whom he conveyed Spain's support for the Presidency of the Council of the EU, which Denmark will assume on 1 July.

Albares acknowledged that the European Presidency, which Denmark will hold during the second half of the year, will be crucial for making progress on issues such as the Multiannual Financial Framework, Enlargement, competitiveness and EU-CELAC relations. In this respect, he stressed that we need to improve European competitiveness based on the triple transition: green, digital and social, while preserving fundamental freedoms and a level playing field.

Bilateral relations

During the meeting, the Spanish minister emphasised that bilateral relations between the two countries are excellent, with unquestionable complementarity on a large number of issues, including climate change and energy transition, social issues, gender equality, the rule of law, industrial policy, European competitiveness and the defence of multilateralism.

After recalling that the Declaration on green energy signed between the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and Prime Minister Frederiksen in 2023, was a fundamental sign, Albares advocated a common approach to the green agenda that would allow synergies to be explored in renewable hydrogen and wind farms, including cooperation in research and development to promote new technologies.

Both sides also reiterated their commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Co-official languages

The Spanish minister, who acknowledged that he is counting on the current Polish Presidency to make progress on European linguistic diversity, also took the opportunity to request a constructive approach from Denmark, as well as support during the Danish Presidency to consolidate Catalan, Basque and Galician as official languages of the EU.

Non official translation