The danish presidency in 2002

The last time Denmark had the EU Presidency was in 2002. Next time Denmark takes over the EU Presidency is the first semester of 2012.

 In 2002, the Danish government chose five headlines for the EU Presidency:

• From Copenhagen to Copenhagen: The main priority of the Danish Presidency was to finish the negotiation process with the ten new member states and to make accession agreements with Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.
• Freedom, security and justice: Common action against border-crossing crime
• Sustainable development: A strong and competitive European economy as the foundation for continued growth, prosperity and welfare.
• Safe food: Increasing quality of food and renewing the agricultural and fishery policies.
• Global responsibility: Strengthening the Common Foreign and Security Policy and increasing the cooperation between developed and developing countries.
• The most important task for the Danish Presidency in 2002 was to close the enlargement negotiations with the ten new member states Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Malta and Cyprus, which entered into force the 1st of January 2004.