Messages in the Media - University of Toronto

should not be the focus of conspiracy theories or criticism.
A German Europe is no threat and Germany is the
only country capable of solving the European debt crisis
according to the author “Merkel maps out the path on a
battlefield where most have lost their sense of direction.”
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- In November 2011, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmid
met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to
discuss Denmark’s upcoming presidency of the EU. A media
reporting from 18 November asserted that Merkel believes
Thorning-Schmidt is well suited to “build a bridge
between EU countries who use the Euro and those who
do not. Merkel also said that Denmark’s status as a euro
outsider should not diminish the prospect of a successful
Danish EU presidency. During the meeting Thorning-
Schmid stated that Denmark would not go ahead with
planned border controls.
- On 9 December 2011 it was reported that Denmark is
seeking to be a part of any new agreement that the Eurozone
countries adopt to try to tackle the debt crisis. Denmark
is concerned that any treaty changes may create a
“two speed Europe” with non-Eurozone countries on the
outside. There is concern that this could weaken Denmark’s
influence in the EU with Eva Kjer Hansen, EU issues
spokesperson for Venstre (The largest Danish political
party) stating “We are now seeing the consequences of
Denmark having an exception to the euro as we are not
amongst the core countries. Splitting Europe into different
groups could weaken Denmark's influence.” 28
- A report on 14 December 2011 indicated that the rise of
euro skepticism in Denmark is a new phenomenon. Increased
criticism of the euro and European integration is
a result of the financial crisis where even core euro countries
did not keep their financial houses in order. According
to critics, the European Union has spent too much
time engaged in power struggles and treaty discussions
when it should have been working to liberalize their markets.
As a consequence, the 40 billion dollars that Denmark
may have to add to the EU crisis fund will hook
Denmark to a doomed European project. The author does
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