Denmark strives to give EU 'stronger global voice'

Job creation is one of four central priorities of Denmark's six-month European Union presidency, which began this month, the country's U.S. ambassador to the United told a Jan. 18 Newsmaker audience.

Denmark "hopes its EU presidency can help give Europe a stronger voice in global affairs," Ambassador Peter Taksoe-Jensen said.

The other three goals are to help create a "dynamic Europe" by stimulating long-term growth, working for a "green" Europe, and creating a safe Europe, both internally and externally,Taksoe-Jensen said.

The Danish presidency will work to deliver concrete results in these areas and contribute to bringing the EU out of the economic crisis and into a future growth track, Taksoe-Jensen said. Denmark feels there is a need for more economic responsibility in Europe at a time when the area is dealing with low growth rates and falling behind in global competitiveness, he said.

Denmark sees the risk of Europe losing knowledge-intensive jobs and high-tech research capabilities to more "economically attractive" parts of the world such as the United States, South Korea, India and China, Taksoe-Jensen said.

Denmark's presidency is its seventh since joining the European Community in l973.