Denmark's Green Party (SF) has just made history, entering government as the country's second-largest party after the March 2026 election reshuffled the Folketing. With five ministers in the new cabinet, SF holds more influence than at any point in the party's history. MEP Rasmus Nordqvist reflects on what that means for the green transition, how Danish climate ambition connects to a stalling EU agenda, and how the party is navigating the tension between its values and the security priorities of a new coalition operating in an uncertain geopolitical moment.
1. The Danish Greens just entered government as Denmark's second-largest party after two decades largely on the outside. What does SF's presence in the Frederiksen III cabinet mean in practice for the green transition?
Apart from having an SF Minister for Environment appointed, the presence of SF in the Frederiksen III government will entail stronger coherence between environmental, climate, nature, and agricultural policy. While the position as Minister for Agriculture has been removed all together, several ministries will now, in cooperation work towards a continued green transition on energy, food production and nature restoration. In other words, we now have a government that is actually green.
2. Denmark has a binding 70% emissions reduction target for 2030 and a pioneering agricultural emissions tax. How do you see the new Danish government's domestic climate agenda connecting to, or diverging from, what is actually moving at EU level right now?
Right now, due to lack of action on agreed policies, under the so-called tripartite on agriculture, nature preservation and clean water, the 70% target that was originally set will be difficult to meet – on the other hand the new government has given real priority to all three elements, and this means a prioritised intention to meet this target, and even go beyond and towards 85% in 2040.
3. The new government has committed to rapid military buildup and faces ongoing pressure from the US over Greenland. How do the Danish Greens square its values with the security priorities of the coalition, and what role do you see Denmark playing in building a stronger European defence
SF has supported the military build-up and is part of the multiparty agreement. Despite the massive investments it entails, a stronger EU as a response to an irresponsible US is the approach. A long-standing broad support in Denmark behind the military and financial support for Ukraine is also supported by SF. Furthermore, SF is also behind the idea of enhanced Nordic Defence corporation. Another reasoning behind the support for EU-focused military spending, is the building up of enhanced security on a European level, rather than appeasement of US demand for NATO increased investments.
The views and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union | Global Dialogue.
