Danish PM says accession of Moldova, Ukraine to EU to strengthen European security, cohesion

The integration of Moldova and Ukraine into the European Union is essential for the security and cohesion of Europe. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen today made statements to this in the plenum of the European Parliament. She advocated for EU expansion and tougher sanctions against Russia.

Mette Frederiksen said that Denmark's presidency in the European Parliament had two priorities: security and, secondly, a competitive and green Europe.

She noted that the cut in defense funding over the past 30 years in European countries was “a huge mistake that must not be repeated.”

“We cannot underestimate the threat from the East. The rearmament of Russia in 2-5 years poses a great threat to Europe and NATO. We need to view our aid to Ukraine from a different perspective. It's not a gift or charity. Our donations constitute a direct defense of Europe, our lives and our freedoms,” said the Danish prime minister at the headquarters of the European legislature in Strasbourg.

The PM of Denmark declared for maintaining constant support for Ukraine, both militarily and economically and called for firm measures against Russian aggression.

“We must increase the pressure on Russia with the toughest sanctions possible. We will promote proposals to stop importing Russian gas and to prevent any other forms of Russian influence. We must increase the pressure on Russia with the toughest sanctions possible. We will promote proposals to stop importing Russian gas and take measures to prevent any other forms of Russian influence. All these measures are interconnected, so we must take the next steps in the EU expansion process for Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans. By bringing these countries closer to Europe, we can help them flourish and grow, making the EU even stronger,” she added.

Frederiksen also highlighted Ukraine's progress in defense, noting the accelerated development of the domestic defense industry. She proposed integrating the Ukrainian defense industry into the European ecosystem, with mutual benefits.

The agenda of the Danish presidency also includes strengthening EU borders, reducing the flow of migrants, supporting the stabilization of neighboring states, simplifying regulations and reducing the burden on businesses and citizens.

At the same time, in the face of energy and climate challenges, the Danish prime minister called for urgent measures to transform Europe into a global leader in clean energy and economic sustainability.

Under the motto, A Strong Europe in a Changing World,  Denmark assumed the presidency of the EU Council on July 1, for the eighth time, after a 13-year break.