Denmark's EU Presidency
Discreet yet Influential Partner in Europe’s Discussions on Change
Dinesen takes part in the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2025. The Presidency rotates among EU states every six months. The host chairs meetings, sets agendas, brokers compromises, and represents the Council with other EU institutions. It is an honour and responsibility for Denmark to shape European dialogue, host leaders, and showcase Danish values of openness, trust, and collaboration.
In close collaboration with the Aarhus-based architectural studio Cubo and MSSR Works designer and wood machinist, Mathias Rasmussen, Dinesen supplied a series of bespoke wooden solutions in Douglas, forming the foundation for dialogue and decision-making at the highest European level.
Shaping the Presidency
Cubo has designed the physical framework for the Danish presidency, including meeting venues in Denmark and Brussels. The design began with sustainability in mind, and the deliberate use of natural materials supports the presidency's green agenda.
“Our approach highlights Danish design and craft, rooted in history and modernity. The goal was to showcase Danish materials naturally, focusing on wood and textiles. Sustainability was built in from the start, using local resources that can be reused or repurposed after the Presidency.”
At the centre of the project are eight podiums in Douglas, each designed to serve as functional tools of diplomacy and as expressive objects that reflect the honesty of the material. The same wood also forms the fronts of the ministerial council chambers, creating a unified language of design that frames the space where Europe’s leaders meet. The podiums are crafted from quality timber that is unsuitable for floor planks but perfect for furniture – a Dinesen approach to utilising the entire tree trunk.
Our participation extends to a loan for Copenhagen's permanent meeting venue throughout the presidency, Forum CPH, and includes two monumental tables, each 15 metres long. Crafted from Douglas planks measuring 32 by 450 millimetres, the tables encourage gathering, discussion, and exchange. The loan will allow the tables to be used for other valuable purposes in the future.
Twelve table legs, a planter box, and integrated cable management solutions complete the crafted elements, ensuring every detail contributes to both function and atmosphere.
Materiality and Details
Apart from the tables, every piece is made from 27 by 150 millimetres of Douglas side planks, finished with a natural oil by Linolie & Pigment. A defining detail is the consistent use of visible tongue-and-groove joints, an honest expression of craftsmanship that celebrates the wood’s character rather than concealing it.
“I didn’t focus too much on matching the planks for harmony, valuing the symbolism of the Council being assembled from varied pieces. With 80 tables of different expressions, it shows unity through balance of similarity and difference, like the EU itself.”
For Dinesen, participating in this significant European moment is about more than design. It is about creating a setting that embodies responsibility and community.
Dinesen Douglas, rooted in responsibility, heritage, and community, now forms the quiet yet powerful foundation for European decision-making — a natural material shaping the conversations of the future.
