Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

The EU Presidency led to Council Conclusions on disability policy and contribution to the Commission’s first housing plan

At the end of 2025, Denmark handed over the Presidency of the Council of the EU to Cyprus after six months with strong results in the area of social affairs and housing. The Minister for Social Affairs and Housing hosted two high-level conferences, accomplished the adoption of council conclusions and delivered the Council’s input to the Commission’s first housing plan.

Denmark had the EU Presidency in the last half of 2025, where the Minister for Social Affairs and Housing, Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, focused on five central priorities

• Independent living for persons with disabilities
• Affordable and sustainable housing
• Combatting homelessness
• Social inclusion of children in need with focus on children in care
• Equal treatment

During the Presidency, Denmark has achieved strong results within all five priorities.

Independent living for persons with disabilities

The Danish Presidency negotiated council conclusion that established a political direction for the work on promoting independent living for persons with disabilities in the member states and the EU as a whole. These council conclusions were adopted at the EPSCO Council meeting on 17 October 2025 with the Minister for Social Affairs and Housing in the chair. Read more here (Danish).

Furthermore, the Minister for Social Affairs and Housing invited, in cooperation with Disabled People’s Organisation Denmark, European Disability Forum and the Commission, member states, EU institutions, experts, civil society and other stakeholders to a high-level conference on independent living. After the conference, the Presidency published conclusions based on the discussions in the different sessions. Read more here (Danish).

Affordable and sustainable housing

In September, the Minister for Social Affairs and Housing hosted, in cooperation with the Municipality of Copenhagen, a high-level conference on affordable and sustainable housing. At the conference, decision makers and experts from across the EU shared experiences and best practices, as well as discussing solutions on how we can combine the green transition and social balance in order to ensure that the housing of the future in the EU is both sustainable and affordable. The Presidency published conclusions based on the discussions at the conference. Read more here (Danish).

During the Danish Presidency, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing negotiated a set of Council conclusions on housing with the Member States’ input to the European Commission’s Affordable Housing Plan, which was presented by Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen on 16 December 2025. The conclusions focused on access to financing, construction and sustainability, where to build (planning) and social inclusion. These conclusions were adopted as Presidency Conclusion with the support of Denmark and 25 other member states at the EPSCO Council meeting on 1 December 2025. Read more here (Danish).

Combatting homelessness

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing hosted a thematic seminar on Housing First and a meeting of the European Platform on Combatting Homelessness. The participants shared best practices on Housing First across the member states, knowledge sharing of effective initiatives to combat homelessness and common challenges. The seminar had a particular focus on how the member states can ensure the access to affordable housing that makes Housing First possible in practice. Read more here (Danish)

Social inclusion of children in need with a focus on children in alternative care

As a Presidency, Denmark put particular focus on quality in placements and foster families and how the member states work to ensure quality care for children and young persons in need. It was manifested during the meeting of national coordinators of the European Child Guarantee in October, which was hosted together with the European Commission. Read more here (Danish).

Equal treatment and anti-discrimination

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing also prioritised anti-discrimination and equal treatment, which, for example, was evident through the ongoing negotiations of the Equal Treatment Directive that was tabled by the Commission in 2008. Despite the progress achieved in the negotiations, the Danish Presidency did not succeed in reaching an agreement in the Council. The Minister thus presented her progress report to the Council at the EPSCO-Council meeting on 1 December. It is then up to the incoming presidencies to continue the negotiations. 

The Minister of Social Affairs and Housing, Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, says:

We have achieved many really good results within the areas of social affairs and housing during the Danish EU Presidency, which I am very proud of. We have moved and pushed some important agendas – from independent living for persons with disability, ensuring affordable and sustainable housing, initiatives to combat homelessness, better conditions for children in need to the continuous focus on fighting discrimination. We have done that in close cooperation with the member states, the EU-institutions, experts and civil society. 

I look back at the Presidency with pride in regards to the Danish initiatives we have shared and showed our European colleagues – such as the Danish non-profit housing sector. For me, it is clear: A strong Europe starts with strong, caring and inclusive societies, where everyone belongs and has a place to call home. The Presidency is over, but the work continues – and I look forward to include the experiences and ideas in my future work as Minister of Social Affairs and Housing.

- Sophie Hæstorp Andersen