European Commission
Malmström

Lecture at the University of Copenhagen

I have spent the day in Copenhagen, as part of preparations for the incoming Danish EU Presidency. The day began with me giving a public lecture at the University of Copenhagen. The theme was the Arab spring and the EU’s migration policy. It was followed by a really good discussion and the students were extremely well informed.

Then I had a long conversation with Morten Bödskov, the new Minister of Justice, who is the Danish Minister responsible for most of my portfolio issues. We went through all the issues on the agenda for the first half of next year, and discussed various difficulties and opportunities. It will not be an easy Presidency, in view of the economic crisis and the negotiations on the next multi-annual budget. In the area of Home Affairs alone, there are many tricky issues, such as the asylum package, the Schengen proposal, a number of visa issues, cybercrime, border control, etc. to be addressed during their Presidency. The Danes have opt-outs on almost all of these issues, but I am convinced that they will manage to solve several difficult issues in spite of that. We have high hopes.

I also met with the Labour and Integration Minister, Mette Frederiksen, to discuss, among other issues, labour migration.

Today’s visit also provided a good opportunity to communicate that the Commission’s review of the recent Danish plans to reinforce border controls, is now formally closed.