Lars Løkke RASMUSSEN, Danish Prime Minister, opens the debate on the future of Europe with MEPs and Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, in the European Parliament in Brussels. This is the thirteenth in a series of future of Europe debates between EU heads of state or governments and MEPs. Statements by Lars Løkke RASMUSSEN, Danish Prime Minister, and Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Euro and Social Dialogue.

Brussels

statement

plenary session

future of the European Union (T)

DOMBROVSKIS, Valdis (EPP, LV, EC)

EU - Denmark (T)

RASMUSSEN, Lars Løkke (DK)

Future of Europe: extracts from the opening statements by Lars Løkke RASMUSSEN, Danish Prime Minister

Arrival of the Danish Prime Minister Lars L&oslash;kke Rasmussen to debate future of Europe with MEPs

SOUNDBITE (English), Lars L&#248;kke RASMUSSEN, Danish Prime Minister, The Danes are not swayed by distant dreams of a future there might be. Grand ideas of the United States of Europe fall on deaf ears. We are concerned about finding down to earth solutions to present day problems, to making the EU work better.

SOUNDBITE (English), Lars L&#248;kke RASMUSSEN, Danish Prime Minister, And, as people with a thousand years long tradition for trading, Danes recognize a good deal, when they see it. And the EU is a good deal. The Single Market is a tremendous benefit to our economy which cannot be understated.

SOUNDBITE (English), Lars L&#248;kke RASMUSSEN, Danish Prime Minister, <p>The first issue is migration. This is a challenge, that will not disappear anytime soon. But even, if the challenge is still here, we could all do a better job of explaining to the citizens that the EU and the member states have already achieved quite a lot. For instance, a 95 percent drop in arrivals, since the crisis of 2015. However, more needs to be done.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Lars L&#248;kke RASMUSSEN, Danish Prime Minister, What is good for Africa, will also be good for Europe. That is why I believe we must help Africa in building a true African free trade area, which can serve as the bedrock for the future African jobs and prosperity.

SOUNDBITE (English), Lars L&#248;kke RASMUSSEN, Danish Prime Minister, If we set ambitious goals for the green transition at the European level, we will motivate our own industry to be front runners to the benefit of all of us in Europe. And, not least, to the benefit of our children and grandchildren. Today the EU has become the global voice of the climate and green transition. We need to live up to that responsibility.

SOUNDBITE (English), Lars L&#248;kke RASMUSSEN, Danish Prime Minister, The third issue, where more EU action is needed is on expanding, and modernizing, and implementing the single market. That is, after all, the backbone of our European cooperation. Our internal market needs to be brought up to speed. I can be blunt. The internal market is no longer only about physical goods at physical borders. The modern economy is much more than that. Today, services and, in particular, digital services constitute an increasingly important part of our economy.   <p>Europe must always strive to fulfill its potential together and in peace. Thank you very much.</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Valdis DOMBROVSKIS, Vice-President of the EC in charge of the Euro and Social Dialogue, At the start of this year, we celebrated 45 years since Denmark joint the European Union. In that time Denmark has given to the Union so much: from its effective social model, its growth-friendly business environment and its well-functioning social dialogue to the richness of its culture. It was Denmark, that pioneered a successful model for the labour markets combining the flexibility with the high degree of the social protection.