Danish Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose becomes president of the EU’s Economy and Finance Ministers

Denmark takes on the EU presidency at a time when Europe faces significant challenges concerning the economy and security in a changing world. Europe is struggling with weak growth, productivity, and competitiveness, while also needing major investments in the green transition and a substantial strengthening of its defence, so that Europe can take responsibility for its own security.

The overarching priorities are therefore Europe's defence and security as well as Europe's competitiveness, as Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose chairs the meetings of the EU’s Economy and Finance Ministers during the second half of 2025.

Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose states:

"Our two priorities – Europe’s defence and security and Europe’s competitiveness – go hand in hand: a strong and competitive European economy is a prerequisite for financing the strengthening of European defence. And conversely, a secure Europe that can defend itself is a fundamental framework condition for investments and a competitive economy with strong growth."

On the priority of defence and security, a key task for the Danish ECOFIN presidency will be to ensure continued support for Ukraine. The presidency will also work on defence financing and the concrete implementation of the EU's "REARM Europe" plan, which includes flexibility in the EU’s fiscal rules to allow for increased defence spending and a new loan instrument to finance defence expenditures.

Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose states:

"Ukraine’s fight is the fight of all of Europe. A fight for freedom, security, and democracy. A fight for the right to determine one’s own future. That is why it is a top priority for the Danish presidency that Europe leads the way in ensuring economic support for Ukraine together with other democratic countries and the International Monetary Fund, IMF."

On the priority of strengthened European competitiveness, a central task for the Danish presidency will be to follow up on the Draghi report to enhance European productivity and ensure robust and sound economies in the EU. The presidency will therefore work on simplifying EU regulations and reducing burdens, with a stronger forward-looking focus on burdens from new EU regulations.

Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose states:

"The EU, free competition and trade in the EU’s internal market, as well as common EU rules, are a great advantage – for European businesses and for our entire economy and welfare society. But the benefits could be far greater if we tackle the hassle and burdens of EU regulations that, while serving good purposes, have become too complex and costly. We are making good progress in reducing burdens from existing EU rules. But it’s no good to ease burdens with one hand if we’re introducing new burdens with the other hand. Therefore, the Danish presidency will work for a strong forward-looking focus on upcoming new EU regulations to ensure that we get them right the first time, so the gains are as large as possible and the burdens as small as possible."

The Danish ECOFIN presidency will also prioritise the development of the EU’s Savings and Investment Union (SIU), aimed at more efficient and integrated capital markets in Europe, while maintaining the focus on simplification and burden reduction. This is one of the most important framework conditions for European businesses and one of the most crucial efforts to mobilise private investments and strengthen competitiveness in the EU.

Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose states:

"Europe needs more investments, especially more private investments. Europeans have large private savings, but they need to be put to work in the European economy to a much greater extent. The savings should be invested in innovative European companies that need better conditions to start up and grow – in Europe. That requires efficient and integrated European capital markets, where cross-border investment is easier. For the benefit of the individual European that invests. And for the benefit of businesses that need financing."

The ECOFIN Council will also work on implementing the EU’s fiscal rules to ensure sound and sustainable public finances, the precondition for Member States to be able to finance their priorities. The ECOFIN Council will approve and monitor medium-term fiscal-structural plans of Member States to ensure compliance with the EU’s deficit and debt rules and ensure that EU countries are on track regarding their plans on economic policies and reforms. The Danish presidency will generally work to strengthen the focus on EU Member States’ efforts on structural reforms.

Minister for Economic Affairs Stephanie Lose states:

"In order to strengthen European productivity and competitiveness, efforts at the EU level are important, but structural reforms at the national level in all EU countries are at least as important. Reforms that ensure flexible labour markets, a well-educated workforce, good framework conditions for businesses, and so on. Reforms are also essential for sound public finances and thus for the financing of our priorities, such as stronger defence and the green transition. So, the presidency’s ambition is an acceleration of economic reform efforts in all EU countries. So that we and our children can live in a secure, competitive, and prosperous Europe."