Danish and European business leaders are urgently calling for action to address declining competitiveness, citing excessive bureaucracy and barriers to investment. The concerns were voiced at a meeting with Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Morten Bødskov, ahead of Denmark’s upcoming EU presidency.

Companies are reporting a continued decline in competitiveness, with Danish companies among the most worried, surpassed only by German and Austrian firms. According to figures from the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), 34 percent of Danish companies experienced a decline in competitiveness in the first quarter of 2025, while only 3 percent reported progress.

DI’s CEO, Lars Sandahl Sørensen, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that jobs are moving out of Europe due to the difficulty of investing there. He called for rapid debureaucratization in the EU, faster digitalization, and quicker permit processes for new projects.

Minister Bødskov acknowledged the concerns and outlined the Danish government’s priorities for its upcoming EU presidency, which include reducing burdens on businesses and making Europe more attractive for private investments. He highlighted the importance of the green transition, strengthening green technologies, and increasing investments in new technologies, digitalization, and automation.

Sørensen expressed optimism about the Danish government’s approach to the EU presidency, noting that their priorities align well with the needs of European businesses. However, he also stressed the need for action within Denmark itself, calling for greater speed and debureaucratization at the national level. The EU Commission has proposed reducing companies’ paperwork by 25 percent, while DI advocates for the removal of barriers in the internal market through harmonization of rules between EU countries.