Is something rotten in the state of Denmark?

Leaving aside the ongoing eurozone crisis, the Danish EU presidency will not stir up the difficult issues - which every presidency inherits and passes on six months later – our resident satirist Schadenfreude insists

To be or not to be. This is the question. What are the Danes up to? Denmark is almost as awkward a European Union member as Britain. Like the United Kingdom, it has an opt-out from the obligation to join the eurozone and is exempt from anything done in the areas of freedom, security and justice. And, unlike Britain, from decisions and actions - which have defence implications. Although, these are very few indeed.

Denmark currently holds the rotating EU presidency, which is bad news for the union. Danish presidencies are notorious for the lack of local discretion. Copenhagen keeps a tight hold and the government is itself constrained by the Market Committee of the Folketing – parliament - whose instructions on "lines to take" in negotiations are, by convention, binding. Since compromise is the flavour of the EU presidency months, rigidity upsets the system. The Copenhagen controllers have never hoisted in that the EU offers the aggregate of second-best solutions, when national first choice objectives are not obtainable.

Denmark automatically follows changes in the interest rate fixed by the European Central Bank. And, after initial hesitation, Denmark has subscribed to the new Fiscal Stability Agreement - with its limited control over national borrowing and its, on paper, penalties for breaches of the debt and deficit rules. This must mean that Denmark is confident that it can meet all the requirements without fear of penalty. May it also mean that the country is thinking about shaking off some of its inhibitions and joining the eurozone? Surely, nobody would be daft enough to sign up just now.

Individually, Denmark has served the union well. The long-serving former secretary general of the European Council Nils Ersbøl was a brilliant operator, whose diplomatic skills helped the council out of many of the holes it has a predilection for digging itself into – as the recent running series of 'final decision' meetings shows. Denmark, a natural cost-cutter, is responsible for settling outstanding issues on the future financing of the union. Which, as things stand, may be beyond the grasp of any presidency. Otherwise, and leaving aside the ongoing eurozone crisis, it need not stir up the difficult issues which every presidency inherits and thankfully passes on.