As the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU comes to a close, reflections are underway on its contributions to European cooperation and policy development. In the field of higher education, Poland emphasised the role of European Universities alliances in fostering excellence and inclusion, and deepened cooperation through a brokeraged Council resolution on a European degree label and a Council recommendation on a European quality assurance and recognition system (see ACA Newsletter – Education Europe, May 2025). The Polish Presidency continued efforts to support Ukraine, and strengthened the links between research, innovation, and regional. One of the last events of the Polish Presidency in higher education was the 3rd European Alliances Forum which brought together key stakeholders at European and national level to discuss the progress achieved so far and pathways for the future.  

Denmark will now take up the baton as of 1 July 2025. The Kingdom of Denmark is the second in the current Presidency trio (Poland – Denmark – Cyprus), which has outlined shared priorities structured around three broad themes: 

• A Strong and Secure Europe, which refers to external actions, security and defence, migration and border protection, enlargement and internal reforms.  
• A Prosperous and Competitive Europe, which deals with various components that make up competitiveness, twin transition, innovation, environment and social affairs.  
• A Free and Democratic Europe, which contains references to EU values such as rule of law and human rights.  

The Danish Presidency’s programme, titled “A strong Europe in a changing world”, reflects this trio vision while placing strong emphasis on competitiveness, security, and Europe’s global partnerships. Of particular relevance to education, research, and innovation, Denmark’s agenda highlights the following areas: 

• Strengthening global partnerships in education and research, particularly with developing countries, as part of a broader effort to support the EU’s external engagement; 
• Supporting the recovery and long-term resilience of Ukraine’s education and research systems; 
• Advancing skills development, including green and digital skills, through upskilling, reskilling, and modernisation of training systems; 
• Ensuring a better link between mobility and the labour market, especially through mutual recognition of qualifications; 
• Promoting quality, inclusion, and equal opportunities in education – with a focus on young people; 
• Facilitating the development of an EU Talent Pool to attract and retain talent, particularly in higher education and research sectors. 

Denmark assumes the Presidency at a critical moment, with the European Commission expected to publish proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework and future FP10 around mid-July. The Danish Presidency is expected to help shape initial negotiations and ensure education and innovation are recognised as strategic enablers of European competitiveness and resilience.