Denmark – Telephone call between Amélie de Montchalin and Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod (8 June 2020)

Amélie de Montchalin, Minister of State for European Affairs attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, spoke on June 8 with Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod.

Their conversation focused mainly on economic recovery strategies in response to the health crisis, especially the European recovery plan and the next European budget, which the EU European affairs ministers will discuss on June 16 ahead of the videoconference of heads of state and government on June 19. Following up on the French-German initiative of May 18, Ms. de Montchalin underscored the need for an ambitious, solidarity-based recovery plan providing significant European support for the sectors and regions hit hardest by the crisis. They also addressed the coordination of strategies for ending the lockdown, particularly the coordinated and progressive lifting of measures at the borders.

The ministers also discussed the EU’s future relationship with the United Kingdom, stressing in particular shared challenges on fisheries, the goal of launching the Conference on the Future of Europe as quickly as possible, and strengthening European mechanisms to guarantee respect for the rule of law in the EU.

Lastly, they spoke about the humanitarian airlift for Africa instituted by the EU on May 7 and the project of a joint flight to Burkina Faso that would include the French European affairs minister, the Danish development minister, and the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid, Mr. Lenarčič.