The Road to Europe

In 2003, when Denmark held the Presidency of the European Union, a difficult task was placed on the shoulders of Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Ten countries including the Czech Republic had applied for accession into the EU and were trying to negotiate the most favorable conditions for their countries. Because of this, Fogh Rasmussen was the key figure during the accession negotiations. Danish documentary filmmaker Christoffer Guldbrandsen received permission from his Prime Minister to constantly follow him throughout this difficult process. Guldbrandsen's ever-present camera and the unusual openness of Fogh Rasmussen and his team allow us to see a behind-the-scenes look at high politics. How to maintain a cool head in the face of Putin's displeasure regarding the encirclement of the Kaliningrad region by the new members of the EU? And how expedient would it be to give into the demands of the Polish Prime Minister? What should be done about the Turkish request for accession into the EU, when on one hand it is opposed by a majority of the Prime Ministers of the member states and on the other is supported by the American President George Bush? While watching the Danish film we realize, among other things, just how small a portion of the outcome of the important negotiations, carefully formulated in advance, are covered by the media.