American Club President, R. Spencer Oliver; Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen; U.S. Ambassador Laurie S. Fulton; and AmCham Executive Director Stephen Brugger. (Photo: Hasse Ferrold)

Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen praises U.S.-Danish relations. (Photo: Hasse Ferrold)

By: AmCham Denmark (May 03, 2010)

On April 29, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen addressed members of AmCham Denmark, the American Club, the Rebild Society and the American Women’s Club.

The afternoon started with a warm welcome by U.S. Ambassador to Denmark Laurie S. Fulton. Fulton emphasized the historic and important relationship between the United States and Denmark as well as praising the Prime Minister’s first year in office and his success at the COP15 negotiations.

After Fulton’s kind introduction, Prime Minister Rasmussen took the podium to touch on his government’s key priorities, U.S.-Danish partnership and the future of Danish-U.S. relations.

Since taking office, the Prime Minister has undertaken three initiatives to drive Denmark forward in the slow economy: presented a new team of ministers, launched an ambitious work program called Denmark 2020 and established a national Growth Forum with participants from the business, academic and political community.

The Growth Forum’s aim is to take a closer look at Denmark’s growing productivity gap, opportunities in the green economy and how Denmark can become better at attracting foreign investments and skilled labor. In regards to the last point, the Prime Minister acknowledged AmCham’s support and thanked AmCham for providing useful input at the last meeting in April.

Turning his focus across the Atlantic, the Prime Minister said that in Denmark and around the world, there is a renewed sense of support behind American leadership. “While the world is changing dramatically, the basis for the long-standing and unique Danish-American friendship and partnership has never been stronger,” he stated.

Highlighting the strength of Danish-U.S. partnership, the Prime Minister praised the economic cooperation and trade between the two nations as well as the close cooperation on climate change and the green agenda.

Speaking on Denmark’s foreign policy and the future of the Danish-US relations, the Prime Minister said, “Effective transatlantic cooperation cannot be taken for granted. It requires an active effort. We need to continue to push for consultation, cooperation and sharing of information so that our tactics and long-term goals remain aligned. This is a priority of the Danish Government. As a member of NATO and the EU, and with historical ties and shared interests with the United States, Denmark is uniquely positioned to take up this challenge.”

During a question and answer session, the Prime Minister touched on the debt crisis in Greece, the unreasonable exchange process of non-EU driver’s licenses and the recent targeting of foreign companies for evading taxes.

To read the full English text of the Prime Minister’s speech, click here.