Elephant hand knitted by European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager. The elephant is a product of Margrethe Vestager’s well-known habit of knitting during meetings – even high-level ministerial gatherings. 

Last year when Margrethe Vestager left Danish politics to become the country’s European commissioner in Brussels, she gave her successor as economy minister, Morten Østergaard an unusual present: an elephant she had knitted herself. 

When giving the eleplant to Østergaard Vestager explained the symbolism of the elephant:

"I have knitted a friend for you. It's an elephant. Elephants are social, insightful animals. They live in communities - and I have to say it - they live in matriarchal societies. They bear no grudge, but they remember well."

Margrethe Vestager has generously og personally donated this elephant, similar to the one she gave to Morten Østergaard.