Denmark

Political relations

Political relations between France and Denmark are long-standing, sustained and marked by confidence. King Frederik X, son of Queen Margrethe II and the Frenchman Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, is a fluent French speaker, just like his brother, Prince Joachim, who was the Defence attaché of the Danish embassy in France.

Our analyses converge on many international policy issues (peacekeeping, interest in preventive actions in Africa, primacy of international law, environment). These close ties are destined to grow stronger, in a bilateral, European or NATO-related context.

In addition to this institutional cooperation, the positive interest that the Danish “model” (environment, healthcare, soft mobility, innovation) incites in France has led to many working visits by political and administrative officials and members of civil society at all levels.

Economic relations

Our economic relations have been growing stronger for several years, and reached a new record in 2023, with trade in goods equalling €7.9 billion. In 2024, France was Denmark’s 9th-largest customer and 10th-largest supplier. The leading French exports in 2024 continued to be pharmaceutical products (16% of total exports), products for the automotive industry (12%), general-use machinery and equipment (7%) and beverages (6%). In France, Denmark finds many outlets for its pharmaceutical industry (14% of French imports), and also electrical equipment (16% of total imports), general-use machinery and equipment (10%) and processed and preserved fish products (4%). Denmark is one of our priority countries for external trade and investment, and France has been the leading European destination for Danish investment for four years. France’s trade surplus with Denmark has continued to grow since 2021 (€527 M in 2024 compared to €389 M in 2023). Denmark is the only Nordic country with which France has traditionally enjoyed a trade surplus.

Some 220 French companies are established in Denmark and employ more than 13,000 people, some of which are Total, Saint-Gobain, Keolis, Capgemini, BNP Paribas and Renault. More than 400 Danish businesses are set up in France, including Novo Nordisk (medicines and biotechnology), Carlsberg, Velux, DFDS and William Demant (hearing aids).

A new bilateral tax agreement entered into force on 29 December 2023, providing a conventional framework to eliminate double taxation, including regarding pensions, while ensuring that violations, evasion and tax fraud are prevented.