Brussels Bubble Tea S3E6: ‘God Sommer’! Denmark, Copenhagen and much more!
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July 07, 2025
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Denmark will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July 2025, where it will lead meetings and influence member priorities. To prepare for this transition, in this episode of Brussels Bubble Tea (Season 3, Episode 6), host Ani Gundes speaks with colleague Katja Murray to get to know Denmark, its unique culture and its capital city, Copenhagen, through the eyes of someone who divides her time between the Nordics and the EU Bubble.
Could you start by introducing yourself. How did you come to Brussels, how long have you been with FTI Consulting, and which team do you work in?
Katja: My name is Katja, and I have been with FTI for around three and a half years. I am Danish and based in Copenhagen. We opened a small FTI office there nearly four years ago, and I joined when it was completely new.
It has been a fun journey, because FTI is a large corporate company, but in Copenhagen the office has more of an entrepreneurial, boutique feel. We are just four people on the ground. In my role I sit with the healthcare and life sciences team, and I cover both the Nordics and the EU. In practice, I split my time more or less half and half between Copenhagen and Brussels, and I also cover a lot of EU policies. We are growing a bit in the Nordics and recently opened an office in Stockholm as well.
To set the scene, could you explain what the rotating EU Presidency is and what it means in practice?
Katja: The EU Presidency rotates between the 27 Member States of the European Union. Every six months a new Member State holds the Presidency. It runs, for example, from 1 July until 31 December, and from 1 January the next Presidency begins.
In practical terms, the Presidency leads the meetings. You can think of it as sitting at the end of the table and chairing the discussions. The country also has some influence over priorities. Many priorities are already set, but the Presidency can push certain topics that it considers important.
It is also important to mention the trio system. Three Presidencies work closely together as a kind of trinity. There is a strong overlap with the previous and the next Presidency, so in the last month of a Presidency you already join meetings and slowly take over the baton, and the same happens at the end when you hand over to the next country. In this cycle, the previous Presidency was Poland, and the next one will be Cyprus.
What will be the main topics that Denmark will focus on during its Presidency, in your view?
Katja: The official tagline is “a strong Europe in a changing world”. That already says a lot. In the current geopolitical reality, three themes stand out: security, competition and the green transition.
Security is very high on the agenda, including because of the situation in our neighbourhood. The green transition is also central, and competition is important if Europe is to remain competitive globally.
Denmark has traditionally been a very green country, with a strong focus on sustainability. A key question for the Presidency is how to maintain high ambition on the green transition, while at the same time trying to ease some of the regulatory burden. That balance is not easy to strike.
Let us talk more about Denmark itself. How would you describe your country to someone who has never been there. For example, how would you convince me to visit if I do not know much about it?
Katja: Denmark is quite a small country, with around five and a half million people. It is part of the Nordics. The country has a long tradition of democracy and also of voluntary work. Many people are involved in football clubs, after-school activities and scouts.
This creates a strong sense of community. From a young age, many people do unpaid work to support different organisations. The NGO sector and civil society are strong, and I see that as one of Denmark’s strengths.
In the bigger cities, we also have a very strong biking culture. Of course, in the countryside most people need a car, but in Copenhagen and other large cities you really need a bike. It is difficult to manage without one.
You mentioned biking culture. How central is that to daily life in Danish cities?
Katja: If you live in Copenhagen or another big city, a bike is essential. Most people have at least one. If you have children, you often have one of those large cargo bikes, where you can fit kids in front and maybe even the dog.
It is a real biking culture. It looks quite similar to Amsterdam. Bikes are not just for leisure, but they are an everyday means of transport. That is why a bit of bike education is useful for tourists. People take cycling seriously. There are separate bike lanes and even separate bike bridges over the water, and the city is very intentionally equipped for bikes. In most big cities in Denmark, it is easier to get around on a bike than in a car.
What cultural aspects of Denmark would you highlight, and what is your favourite place in the country?
Katja: I am probably biased because I was born in Copenhagen, so that is clearly my favourite city. But there are many beautiful places in Denmark, including in the countryside. We have a lot of coastline and beaches. It is not tropical for most of the year. Even in a good year, we have perhaps two months of a decent summer. The rest of the year can be a bit rough.
One cultural aspect I would highlight again is civil society, because it really shapes how people live and engage with each other. We also have some cultural institutions that are quite historic. For example, Denmark has one of the oldest ballet traditions in the world, with culture dating back centuries.
Denmark is a kingdom, and people are generally quite positive about the royal family. It is not as controversial as in some other countries. The royal family does a lot of public engagement, including initiatives to encourage people to exercise more, such as the Royal Run every year, where many people run together with members of the royal family. They try to be relatively close to people, and in a small country that is perhaps a bit easier.
Another cultural element is our love of crime stories. There are many crime series and crime novels, including some that are well known on platforms like Netflix. I think part of this comes from the climate. In the summer you get very excited because it is finally warm and sunny, but much of the year is dark and a bit gloomy. That creates a good environment for reading or writing crime stories.
You said you are from Copenhagen. What is the city like, and what makes it exciting to you in terms of culture, music, art or food?
Katja: Copenhagen has a good size. Around one and a half million people live there, which means you can easily get around, of course on your bike.
There is a strong music scene, many art galleries and a lot of street food. The city is surrounded by water, so in summer you are lucky to be able to go swimming. In recent years, there has been a big effort to clean up the water in the harbour and the canals, so you can swim in many places in the city.
Our FTI office is located in the city centre, near the Royal Theatre, so it is very central.
What are some must do activities in Copenhagen. What would you recommend to visitors, including things your friends have particularly enjoyed?
Katja: Many visitors try a hotdog at some point. There are hotdog stands all over the city. At the other end of the spectrum, Copenhagen has several very high-end restaurants, including Michelin-starred ones. They are excellent but also quite expensive, so they require a comfortable budget. If you are not travelling with that kind of budget, street food is a better option.
One place that is well known is Christiania. It was created in the early 1970s, when a group of people, often described as hippies, took over part of Copenhagen and built their own houses and community with their own rules. Many of the houses were self-built. The atmosphere is alternative, and the area has kept that community and spirit for decades. Tourists often find it fascinating, because there are not many places like it.
What should we know to “survive” in Denmark or in Copenhagen. Are there skills or habits that are particularly important?
Katja: Learning to ride a bike properly is probably the most useful thing. It is not just about cycling for pleasure. You need to be comfortable riding at speed among many other bikes. Most Danes signal when they stop or turn, and there is a certain etiquette in bike lanes.
Every summer you see tourists who suddenly stop to take a selfie in the middle of the bike lane, and then everyone crashes into them. People can be quite serious about cycling, and if you do not behave in the bike lane, you will probably hear some strong words.
Most people also wear helmets, which is important, because falling off a bike can be dangerous.
Could you teach us a few basic Danish words that might help us get by?
Katja: A very useful word is “tak”, which means thank you. You can also say “hej” when you meet people and “hej hej” when you leave, so that is quite handy. It sounds similar to English “hi”, although the spelling is different.
Most people in Denmark speak English very well, so you can get by in English. The Nordic languages are also quite similar to each other, so Danish is close to Swedish and Norwegian. Some of the spelling looks a bit like Flemish, so if you read it, you may recognise elements, even if understanding spoken Danish is more difficult. It is a complicated language to learn, but even a few words are appreciated.
Are there any practical things we should know, for example about currency and prices. How does Copenhagen compare to Brussels?
Katja: If you visit Copenhagen in summer, it is important to remember that Denmark is not part of the euro. We still have the krone. Prices are generally higher than in Brussels. Hotels are quite expensive, and going out for dinner can also be costly. Street food is usually a more affordable option. It is not a cheap city, but it is a very enjoyable one.
We are coming close to the summer break. How would you wish us a good summer in Danish?
Katja: I would say “god sommer”, which means “have a nice summer”.
Published
July 07, 2025
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