By tying the krone to the euro with a fixed exchange rate, as they had done to the deutschemark previously, the Danes have managed to balance a respectable record of EU cooperation while maintaining their own currency. This was accomplished in large by the Danish government’s spending cuts that provided for an eventual budget surplus. How was this accomplished while maintaining such an active social-welfare program? An increase in women’s participation in the workforce and a balance of transfer payments by the government made this possible. The Danish workforce has largely expanded since the 1970s due an increase of women in the work place. The majority of women sought work in the public service sector, which provided for elderly care, child care, and public health works. While the state plays a crucial role in providing excellent child care facilities, they also set the stage in promoting gender equality status among member states. Denmark exhibits a strong female presence in their national legislature, cabinet, and European parliament.

During Denmark’s six-month presidency rotation of the EU, “green issues” dominated much of the agenda. Denmark sought to set a definite decrease in carbon dioxide emissions, as well as tracking genetically modified foods, a major pain in many European states’ sides. Hovering over this wavers Denmark’s desire to create an environmental liability directive that is based on the “polluter pays principle.” An EU-wide liability regime is unlikely, however, given that most member states still differ on basic points and Parliament discussions are still in their enfant stages.

Currently, the Danish government has many concerns surrounding the EU, as all other member states. These concerns lie with a clearer division of labor between the EU and the member states. Denmark wants to see a “stronger but slimmer EU;” stronger in terms of cross-border nature, such as the Common Foreign and Security Policy, immigration policy, combating crime, and the environment and food safety, and slimmer in terms of regulations and administration. The Danish government feels that EU regulation in too detailed and would like to see more leniencies for state administration of regulations and directives. In this respect,

Some topics in this essay:
European Union, Court Justice, Council Ministers, Citizens Denmark, Finally Denmark, Security Policy, Market Committee, People’s Party, Social Democrats, Union Danish, danish government, european union, joining euro, danish economy, conservative people’s party, denmark exhibits, gender equality, denmark successfully, child care, spending cuts, citizens denmark,