Danish presidency of the European Council

Having watched Borgen last night - well, most of it, switching only to see Match of the Day - it was only natural to round off my viewing with a sight of the real female Danish prime minister. (Did Borgen influence the decision of the Danish electorate, one wonders?) BBC Parliament had a recording of Helle Thorning- Schmidt's speech to the European Parliament on its late night Review programme. After noting that the speech was in only slightly accented English, which must have annoyed the French no end, what struck me most was the note of fiscal responsibility which the Danish PM sounded from the start. She went on to mention the need for steady and self-sustaining growth, but on a sound economic basis. This was from the Social Democrat leader of a coalition government which includes Liberals.

It is going to be a tough presidency. Ms Thorning-Schmidt sees Europe's salvation in green growth, an educated youth and both widening and deepening the European Union. (There is a pdf here.)