Last Week in Denmark (01.05 - 08.05) Episode 17 Year 2
Annual worth of internationals is 211 billion DKK; Changes in government; Digitalization strategy; Parking fees;
Editor HQ
New partnership: We are excited to announce that the author of the English podcast “Femme Lead”, Alexandra Ciobotaru will be writing a dedicated column on women empowerment for our website. Until then, you can see her in action, on the 21st of May, at the “Career Breakthrough Conference” located on Matrikel1 (Copenhagen). You can still sign up here.
Other opportunities
19th May (Aarhus) - You can join the “Youth to Business” Forum created by AIESEC. The event seeks to organize a space where youngsters can speak to company representatives and potentially find their future employers in companies across Denmark.
12th May (Aalborg) - You can join the “North Danish Career Convention” organized by International House North Denmark. This is a matchmaking event where companies from North Denmark, international students, and young professionals meet to explore career and networking opportunities in the region.
Ukraine HQ
Others
The alternate reality of Russia: On the 5th of March, the Russian government made a law that allows Russians to use Western patented inventions, designs or even brand names, without fear of consequences. From Nespresso, Starbucks, Instagram and McDonald’s, to luxury brands including Christian Dior, and Givenchy, to even our beloved Lego. They continue to exist in Russia now, only as russian copies of the original.
The end of peace in space: After 25 years of peace in space, Russia wants to withdraw from the International Space Station. All cooperation with NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) will be stopped. Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX can take over all of Russia's work tasks. Russia plans to build its own space station by 2025.
Danish Politics HQ
The political game
The minister of justice resigned: The social-democrat politician Nick Hækkerup resigned as minister of justice and exited politics after a 20 year long career. He resigned to become the new director of the Danish Brewers' Association.
Changes in the government: The resignation of the justice minister has triggered changes.
The new minister of justice is Mattias Tesfaye (who is resigning as minister of integration).
The new minister of integration is Kaare Dybvad Bek (who is resigning as minister of interior and housing).
The new minister of interior and housing is Christian Rabjerg Madsen. He is at his first assignment as a minister and therefore a risky gamble from Mette Frederiksen.
Discussions on the retirement age: The “Pension Commission” made recommendations for a new retirement age.
The retirement age in 2035 will be 69 years old. From 2040, it will follow the increased life expectancy.
The recommendations are to reduce the retirement age to 70,5 years old (2045); 71,5 years old (2060); 72,5 years old (2080) and 74 years old (2100).
The commission also recommends phasing out the “heating supplement” (from 2027) and the “988 DKK media check” (from 2025).
New times in Danish politics: One after another, the politicians that have been an integral part of the Danish political landscape for the past 20 years, choose to exit politics, either for a well-paid job or for a less-stressful one. For example, Jens Rohde (a legend in Danish politics) is just 52 years old, but has decided it is time to stop. His career started in the Danish Parliament (1993) for Venstre, continued in the European Parliament (2015) for Radikale Venstre and it will end with the Kristendemokraterne.
New laws and strategies
Digitalization Strategy: The government launched a new digitalization strategy that contains 61 initiatives that will increase digital security and digital competences of the people and companies in Denmark.
New national strategy for cybersecurity 2022-2024 (270 million DKK for 34 new initiatives).
500 million DKK to strengthen the defense of Denmark against cyber attacks.
A new app is being developed for companies - MitVirk - which gives them support to comply with duties and deadlines.
10-year plan for technology and automation of the public sector, which will free up more time for citizen-centered welfare.
Support for small businesses to get digitized - a lot of the current bureaucracy will be reduced through digitalization.
Danish Economy HQ
Internationals contributed 211 billion DKK to the wealth of Denmark in 2021, according to Dansk Industri. 11% (251.000) of all employees in Denmark are international. It doubled since 2010, when the number was 126.000 people.
Economic relationship with India: The visit of the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi in Denmark signals new times for the economic trade between Denmark and India. Therefore, Dansk Industri will open a new office in Chennai (India) to assist Danish companies in entering the Indian market. This is the second office after Mumbai.
Dubai Leaks: The Danish Tax Agency received access to the data from the “Dubai Leaks” from the German tax authorities. It seems that 100 people and companies from Denmark have properties in Dubai that they forgot to mention. SKAT will pay them a visit.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Record number of applications for “holiday support” aka feriehjælp-program: 10.281 families have applied to send their children at the holiday resorts run by the Dansk Folkehjælp. 2.582 more than last year. If you believe in the mission that poor children also deserve a holiday, you can apply to be a volunteer at the holiday resorts.
9 out of 10 people in Denmark own a smartphone, according to Statistics Denmark. There are 2.630.000 families living in Denmark and according to the latest report they own the following.
90% own a laptop.
81% own a washing machine.
80% have a smart TV.
78% have a microwave and a dishwasher.
59% have a dryer.
56% own a tablet.
49% have GPS on their cars.
43% have an espresso machine.
38% have a photo camera.
37% own a game console.
22% have security cameras at home.
Grill season has started and that’s awesome. However, nature is also going through some terrible drought and therefore you need to pay extra attention to your fires. You can check this map to see the danger level.
Parking fees: If you got a parking fee, but believe it to be unfair, you can complain to the Parkeringsklagenævnet. Almost 50% of the complaints were successful last year.
Local news
Barack Obama is coming to Skive: For 3.000 DKK you can join a moderated Q&A conversation with the former USA president at the KulturCenter Skive on the 12th June.
The end of school milk in Copenhagen: After 100 years, the milk will be phased out from the Danish primary schools in the capital. The municipality will save 1.5 million DKK, as the recommendation of one glass of milk per day is replaced with one glass of water.
Climate summit in Esbjerg: Prime minister Mette Frederiksen has invited the leaders of Germany, Belgium, Netherlands and the European Commission for a climate summit in Esbjerg on the 18th of May. According to the Danish prime-minister, the intention for the summit is to assert Denmark’s leadership in the green transition and to pave the way for the North Sea to become a green power plant for Europe built with Danish technology and experience.
European Union HQ
Military support for Moldova: The president of the European Union Council, Charles Michel announced that Moldova’s army will receive a significant amount of military equipment to be able to defend itself in case Transnistria becomes again a hot zone.
Charles Michel also said that “instead of freezing russian assets, we should seize and sell them to rebuild Ukraine.”
Europe Day: On the 9th of May, we celebrate the foundation of the European Union. You can celebrate with us from 15:00 in Copenhagen (Europahuset, Gothersgade 115) and Aalborg (Gammeltorv). The events are organized by European Movement Denmark.