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Responding, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen picks up some of the themes from Frederiksen’s speech.

I have always admired Denmark’s fast and focused approach. You know how to get things done, and that’s exactly the kind of spirit that we need right now.

She talks about the need to ramp up European defence spending and European joint procurement, reform the bloc’s regulatory and other burdens to improve its competitiveness, and to improve its trade relations.

On the on-going negotiations with the US – with her deputy, Maroš Šefčovič, set to attend high-level talks in Washington today – she says:

“I just want to say we are ready for a deal. We want a negotiated solution.

But you all know that at the same time, we’re preparing for the possibility that no satisfactory agreement is reached. This is why we consulted on a rebalancing list, and we will defend the European interest as needed.

In other words, all instruments are on the table.”

On migration, her tone is much less urgent than that of Frederiksen as she says the EU just needs to implement its new rules on asylum and migration, and should focus on making “progress on our return proposal on safe third countries concept and the safe countries of origin.”

Finally, on Ukraine, she says “achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine remains the key priority, because Ukrainians are fighting not just for their sovereignty, but also for us, for our freedom, for our values, and we know that we can never match their sacrifices.”

“What we can do is stand united, determined and resolute by Ukraine, not just for as long as it takes to secure peace, but to give them the chance, the opportunity to have the country they are dreaming of, and that is a country that masters its own destiny, its own future, a country that is member of the European Union.”