The national rotating presidencies of the EU are divided into groups of three - Trios. Trios ensure consistency in the work of the Council over an 18-month period. Denmark is in a Trio with Poland and Cyprus. Poland held the Presidency before Denmark, while Cyprus takes over when the Danish Presidency ends on 30 June 2012.
The Trio Presidency program
The programme of the Trio Presidency is drafted by the Trio members in cooperation with relevant EU institutions The programme determines the overall agenda for the Council's work for the 18 months the Trio lasts. On the basis of this programme, each of the three presiding countries prepares its own more detailed six-month programme.
The Trio Presidency programme begins with a strategic introduction, which describes the main challenges facing the EU, and outlines key focus areas for the Council's work over the 18 months. To ensure future consistency, the subsequent Trio is consulted in connection with the crafting of the strategic introduction.
Unlike the national Presidency programmes it is a requirement that the Trio Presidency programme is approved by the Council. The programme is not only the Trio's programme, but the work programme of the whole Council. The work programme is general in nature and does not establish a specific set of priorities, but lists the areas and major issues that will be addressed by the Council during the Trio Presidency.
On 21 June 2011, ministers of the General Council (GAC) adopted the Trio Presidency programme for the Polish, Danish and Cypriot Trio.