Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)

I thank the ambassador for his presentation and answers so far. I am curious about this and want to get the wider context. Denmark has shown great leadership on green issues, as the ambassador mentioned. Trying to get the EU to move as a block is very slow and quite difficult. I am trying to get my head around the issue of the genocide, as we call it, in Gaza. Denmark was invaded by the Nazi regime during the Second World War, as the ambassador is very much aware. It has a reputation for doing so much to help Jews in Denmark during the occupation. Ireland's response at that time was mixed and quite embarrassing, to be quite honest. We took in some refugees. At the time, some elements within the IRA were linked with support for the Nazis because of our opposition to the British occupation of the Six Counties of Northern Ireland. However, from our point of view, as a country that was occupied in the past for centuries, while we acknowledged and supported the establishment of the Israeli state, the way Israelis behaved in the West Bank and Gaza over the decades led to a shift in Ireland. Even though the middle ground here absolutely condemns Hamas - as I have done in the Irish Parliament - as a fundamentalist, murderous regime and totally condemns the attacks on 7 October, it does not matter what one says as the Israelis accuse us of being antisemitic. This is something that my colleagues and I totally reject.

Denmark, as a small country that was occupied during the Second World War, is a long-time friend and ally of Israel and has supported Jews in Denmark. In that context, it has considerable pull and leverage to put pressure on Israel. It has the ability to speak as a friend. We have done that with the United States. We are a small, meaningless country in global politics but when it came to dealing with the invasion of Iraq, for example, or what Trump is doing through various policies, for instance, in Ukraine, we spoke out and said our bit as much as we could. At EU level, the Taoiseach and Ministers are pushing for a stronger Europe-wide approach. Why, despite increasing opposition to what is happening in Gaza, has the body politic in Denmark not followed suit, so much so that in the election process for 13- to 16-year-olds that is so loved in Denmark a debate on Palestine was not allowed? It has been described as too complex. A debate on the climate crisis or Ukraine would be equally complex.

That segues into a related question on human rights in general. The Danish Presidency presents a lot of opportunities to make good on our wider human rights watch areas as well. The actual organisation, Human Rights Watch, called on Denmark to do more during its Presidency, not just in Gaza and the Middle East, but on Ukraine and also Hungary. Does Denmark have an official position on the Article 7 process in condemning the Hungarian stifling or choking of human rights issues? I am interested in hearing more on that and on Denmark’s immigration policies. How strong is the country's citizenship process? Migration is presenting as an issue in every single country. even those that were historically liberal and tolerant. Many people distinguish between refugees and economic migrants, for whom their country may or may not have the capacity, and those who claim asylum but are not actually fleeing persecution. What is the Danish position? Is Denmark tough on all refugees or just those who are actual refugees, as opposed to economic migrants? How quick is the turnaround when dealing with someone who comes into the country and claims persecution but is found not to have been persecuted?

I am going around in a circle but I am trying to keep within the allotted time. With regard to Denmark’s objective of reviving Europe's economic dynamism and making it a more productive block, is there a pathway? Through which mechanisms does the ambassador see that happening? The ambassador mentioned the green transition, which I believe was watered down following the trading Ursula von der Leyen had to do after the most recent election. Should Europe still have an auto-manufacturing base, for example? Where should Europe increase its manufacturing capacity and service activity? In general terms, should we go strong on the 10% US tariff, if that is the level, or just let the Americans get on with it?