Denmark defends its EC plan

STRASBOURG - Denmark defended itself yesterday against accusations that it was 'changing horses in mid-stream' and that its management of the European Community was 'disastrous', writes Sarah Lambert.

Appearing before the European Parliament for the first and last time in this Danish presidency, the acting Foreign Minister, Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, said 'Denmark can deliver' on its ambitious programme for the next six months.

Leo Tindemans, head of the conservative European People's Party, said the fall of Poul Schluter's government two weeks into Denmark's presidency was 'the most inauspicious start to a presidency I have ever witnessed'.