Combating illegal migration and restoring order to the EU’s external frontiers would be a welcome step forward, but the left’s adoption of ECR policy priorities has come rather late in the day.

That was the message from ECR Group Co-Chair Nicola Procaccini MEP to Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen this morning during a parliamentary debate on the priorities of the Danish presidency of the Council, which runs from July to December 2025.

Addressing PM Frederiksen, Procaccini said:

“I appreciate your intention regarding the fight against illegal immigration, the protection of external borders and the need to facilitate the return of those who have no right to asylum. You have no idea how long we conservatives have been waiting to hear these words from a socialist leader.

“All these years, merely using the same words you just did has led us to be insulted, mocked and confronted by the left in this Parliament.”

On other policy priorities of the Danish presidency, Procaccini was less complimentary, drawing attention to the implications for households of an energy policy that eschews nuclear power.

Procaccini said:

“The bad news begins with your willingness to drive European energy costs upwards. That means higher bills for households and businesses in the name of the green transition.

“Unfortunately, here the leftist direction of your government is revealed: you consider environmentalism as a substitute for socialism: imposing, taxing, banning, forcing, attacking technological neutrality and people’s freedom. All this without ever once mentioning the word ‘nuclear’”.

ENDS

Mr Procaccini’s full speech is below:

My task today is to assess the programme for the Danish-led European Semester, in light of our different political sensitivities. I appreciate your intention regarding the fight against illegal immigration, the protection of external borders, and the need to facilitate the return of those who have no right to asylum. You have no idea how long we conservatives have been waiting to hear these words from a socialist leader. For all these years, merely using the same words you just did has led us to be insulted, mocked, and confronted by the left in this Parliament. Finally. Unfortunately, in other European countries, socialists continue to pursue a reckless “no borders” immigration doctrine. I’m thinking of Spain or Italy, where members of the Democratic Party would risk fainting if they heard one of your ministers describe the Italy-Albania protocol as “incredibly positive.”

Unfortunately, the good news in your programme ends here for us. The bad news begins with your willingness to drive European energy costs upwards. That means higher bills for households and businesses in the name of the green transition.

Unfortunately, here the leftist direction of your government is revealed: you consider environmentalism as a substitute for socialism: imposing, taxing, banning, forcing, attacking technological neutrality and people’s freedom. All this without ever once mentioning the word ‘nuclear’. This reflects the aversion toward this energy source on the part of the Danish Commissioner for Energy.

Prime Minister Frederiksen, I’m sure you’ll agree with me that the beauty of democracy and politics lies in engaging with differing opinions. We will continue to do so, as always: courteous in tone, but firm in upholding our values. Good luck.