Murnaghan 8.01.12 Interview with Nicolai Wammen, Denmark's Europe Minister

ANY QUOTES USED MUST BE ATTRIBUTED TO SKY NEWS, MURNAGHAN

DERMOT MURNAGHAN: Now then, Denmark is now taking over what could be described as the poison chalice of the European Presidency and has already said its priority is a responsible Europe with budget discipline. Well Nicolai Wammen is Denmark’s Europe Minister and he joins me from Copenhagen, a very good morning to you, Mr Wammen. You said as Denmark assumed the presidency that you want to act as a bridge over troubled waters and the waters are troubled, how can Denmark bridge them?

NICOLAI WAMMEN: Well you are absolutely right that we are taking over the presidency at a very difficult time, probably the most difficult time in European history since the Second World War but we must have a more responsible Europe going to the economy but also to create growth and we want to be a bridge over troubled water, to have the euro countries and the non-euro countries working together so that we do not have two separate clubs but that we have one family in Europe.

DERMOT MURNAGHAN: You mentioned that and of course one instantly turns to Mr Cameron, of course our Prime Minister in the UK and the decisions that he took to veto moves towards a new treaty and closer integration at that summit in December. Of course Denmark’s not in the euro but decided to remain in the club, do you think the UK can be brought in from the cold if that’s where you think it is?

NICOLAI WAMMEN: At the end of the day it is up to Britain to decide which role you want to play but I believe it is very important for all of the EU that Britain is a very active partner and I am also looking forward to work with Britain, for instance on the budget and for reforms of the single market so the decision made by your Prime Minister in December of last year is of course respected but there are a lot of other fields where we can have a very close co-operation and I’m looking forward to that.

DERMOT MURNAGHAN: But do you think there is another way for the UK, do you think that decision was handled well or the decision that Denmark took to stay in that club, to stay in those discussions, to stay in with the other 26 is something that the United Kingdom could have done?

NICOLAI WAMMEN: Well ultimately it was a decision made by the British Prime Minister and I would have liked to have seen all 27 being together but that was not possible therefore now we must try to move forward in a way where we can have a close co-operation among the 26 but also with Britain taking part in as much as she wants to and therefore I am very much engaged in bringing all 27 member states together on the path ahead of us the next six months.

DERMOT MURNAGHAN: Of course you’ve got a difficult internal political decision to make if there is, when there is a new treaty, as to whether to have a referendum or not in Denmark.

NICOLAI WAMMEN: That’s absolutely true. What we have seen so far, the drafts presented by Mr Von Rompuy will not indicate that a referendum will be needed in Denmark but we need to see the final wording and text before we can make a decision. It is also very clear that it is being respected that we have opt outs for instance when it comes to the euro and that is of course very important for the Danes and for the Danish government.

DERMOT MURNAGHAN: In terms of what’s being discussed in the UK about European institutions, Mr Cameron is saying he wants to see reforms within those institutions particularly the European Court of Human Rights but also the euro club, and others who join them, should not be able to use them in the process of deeper fiscal integration.

NICOLAI WAMMEN: Well I hope that we can all have a pragmatic approach to these issues. I mean an agreement will be made, hopefully with as many of the non-euro countries as possible and the 17 within the euro, and I hope that we can use the present institutions in a responsible way that is in the interest of all member states. I am looking forward to discuss that with my colleagues and of course also with the British government.

DERMOT MURNAGHAN: Mr Wammen, thank you very much indeed for your time. Nicolai Wammen there, Denmark’s Europe Minister, Denmark has just assumed the European Presidency.