Culture and environmental protection go together very well
You are a person interested in culture and environmental protection. How do you combine your interests? What is the way you put it together?
Culture and environmental protection go together very well. In my eyes, you can´t have one of them without considering the other. You can, for example, strengthen environmental awareness through the means of culture, art and music.
We can see that Denmark is going with big steps towards carbon neutrality. How does it go so well? When did you start to see the changes around yourself? Is the readiness for changing habits a key point?
The Danish population trusts the government in a way, that many other (European) countries don´t. We also have a different sense of trust in eachother and tend to think in a more social way. In short: the Danish population is very good at working towards a goal together – also together with the government. Because of teamwork and green politics, Denmark works towards carbon neutrality quickly and efficiently.
You are very young and have already entered political life. Are the youth in Denmark generally politically active?
Generelly, yes. But I feel like it is the older politicians’ job to make politics even more attractive to young people. In comparison to the importance that the politics of the future have for us, I don´t feel like enough young Danes are politically active. It is the established politicians’ job to see and use the potential, we have as young people.
As a representative of the German minority in Denmark, can you give some most interesting highlights about the German community in Denmark?
The fact, that two different communities can peacefully coexist, is a testament to the acceptance and tolerance in our region. It is not in every border region, that you can just peacefully speak the language of a bordering country without having to face hate. I hope that we can be an example to the world in this sense.
What is your message for young people all around Europe?
We have to stick together as young people. We can´t let the old people’s hate and polarisation win over us. We have the means to create the world, that we want to spend our future in.
The Danish EU Presidency
„A strong Europe in a changing world” with key priorities: A secure Europe and a competitive and green Europe.
Aside green transition Denmark’s strong focus has also been in uniting Europe, making Europe more resilient and emphasizing enlargement as necessity to the geopolitical situation – strengthening defence, and encouraging greener initiatives.
Denmark has worked on pushing an ambitious EU 2040 climate target, heading to COP30 with a credible 2035 climate pledge, helping keep climate neutrality by 2050 as a strategic necessity.
The ambitious climate goals and achievements highlight the Danish credible track of mobilising whole of society in the green agenda, showcasing how fairly overly ambitious goals can be achieved when public and private actors work together, and act together.
This approach has already delivered concrete outcomes. The EU’s agreement on a 90% emissions reduction target for 2040, achieved under the Danish Presidency, marks a major step forward, and arrived just in time to shape the global talks at COP30.
The Danish ambitions give a clear message: progress depends on partnership, the partnership between public and private sector, and the global cooperation is essential.
The initiatives, focus and ambitions from the Danish Presidency has been centred around the ambition for the EU to become economically stronger, more united, innovative, and sustainable.