Denmark - Official Denmark - International Relations

Denmark
1. Official Denmark
1.15 International Relations

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1.15.1 Foreign Policy
1.15.2 Danish Aid Policy

The global economic, political and cultural internationalisation of the post war years has, especially along with the economic integration of Europe made its mark on Danish foreign policy and Danish participation in international co-operation.

Foreign Policy [top]

Danish foreign policy aims to ensure Danish security by establishing the greatest possible economic wellbeing and promoting Danish standards of right and wrong. Denmark's international relations can be seen on the basis of three contexts. A global circle characterised by co-operation in the UN, links with the Third World and by global economic integration; an Atlantic circle governed by a close relationship to the USA in security policy; a European circle determined by developments within the EU; and finally a local circle determined by developments within the Baltic states and relationships with the Nordic countries.

During the Cold War an attempt was made to create a balance in Danish foreign policy between relations with the USA via NATO, membership of the EC, now the EU, and active participation in the UN and international co-operation in assistance to under-developed countries. There were four principle cornerstones to Danish foreign policy: NATO, Europe, the UN and the Nordic countries. This policy of maintaining a balance has since been replaced by one based on the EU. However, Denmark has increasingly become an active minor state taking its own initiatives, especially outside the EU.

EU

The most important element in Danish foreign policy is the EU. The end of the Cold War and the unification of Germany has reinforced this trend. At the same time Germany has become a central foreign- policy partner. The immediate security threat to Danish territory has disappeared. Instead, Denmark's position as a neighbour to the new Baltic states and Poland and to both Scandinavian and European countries has given rise to an active Danish policy aimed at the admission of the Baltic countries into the EU and NATO. Considerable popular resistance to further integration into the EU has led to Danish opt-outs from some areas of EU co-operation.

The North

The North has been and is still an important ideological partner for Co-operation, as is seen especially in the work of the Nordic Council and the Baltic Council. The broad community of cultural interests, the Nordic passport union and the free internal labour market have created close ties between Denmark and the other Nordic countries. One of the great challenges for Denmark is to combine this community with its European policy. The Nordic countries’ EU policies differ increasingly. Finland joined the euro from the beginning while the Danes voted against joining the euro in a referendum in 2000..At the same time Norway, Iceland, Greenland and the Faeroe Islands are outside the EU.

NATO

Denmark has worked to maintain NATO as the central institution for political security in Europe, and it has been important to Denmark that the USA has continued as an active participant in NATO. In security policy Denmark has positioned herself close to the USA. Thus, Denmark took part in the American attacks on Afghanistan in response to the terrorism attacks on the USA on 11 September. From 2002 Danish assistance aims at providing assistance to Afghanistan and combating terrorism. In addition, like the other European countries, Denmark is a member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE.

UN

The UN has always enjoyed strong support from Denmark, both economically and politically. Denmark participated in its establishment in 1945 and has taken part in over half of the UN peace-keeping operations. Denmark has also actively sought to ensure that the UN acts as the central agency for aid to the Third World. The UN's work on human rights, the environment, social developments, common security and democracy, has been fully backed by Denmark. From 1995, Denmark has embarked on a more critical policy and called for reforms of the UN system. Furthermore Denmark has taken the initiative for the establishment of a standby multinational brigade capable of rapid UN deployment.

Danish Aid Policy [top]

Denmark is one of the few countries in the world to donate 1% of its gross national income to the work of international development. The business community and popular movements over the years have been actively involved in developing an assistance policy, partly by participating in a special council and agency for that purpose. Non- governmental organisations (NGOs) take care of significant areas of bilateral assistance. Almost half the Danish assistance is given through international organisations Inbilateral co-operation, Denmark seeks to support the poorest population groups in the 15 Third World countries with which Denmark principally co-operates. Having revised and reduced the assistance in 2002, Denmark focuses on the combating of poverty, the development of trade and industry and good governance.

In addition there is emphasis on the furtherance of economic growth in the Third World, protection of the environment, respect for human rights and the role of women in the developmental process. Almost half the direct assistance goes to Africa. Since 1999 initiatives aimed at preventing conflicts are supported by a special section i the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An essential area is support for the democratisation of countries with which Denmark co-operates. In addition there is emphasis on training and health, the furtherance of economic growth in the Third World, protection of the environment, respect for human rights and the role of women in the developmental process. More than half the direct assistance goes to Africa. Since 1999 initiatives aimed at preventing conflicts are supported by a special fund administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Hans-Henrik Holm

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