Last Week in Denmark (06.08 - 13.08) Episode 30 Year 3
Public transport; Corruption; Electricity tax
Editor HQ
Pro-internationals: Recently, I received a message from a subscriber asking about our political direction. What do I consider when I curate Danish media for this newsletter? Well, the answer is very simple. There is no traditional political direction (we are neither left nor right-leaning). The only compass is “relevance for internationals”, “positive happenings for internationals”, “positive things internationals have done in Denmark”, in general, anything pro-internationals living in Denmark.
Danish Politics HQ
Law proposals and ideas
Public transport companies are struggling: In Sjælland, Movia needs 180 million DKK extra to keep all the bus routes open. In North Denmark, NT needs 45 million DKK extra. On Fyn, Fynbus needs 10 million DKK. Why? The expected amount of passengers for 2023 didn’t materialize. What's next? The initial response would be to close unsustainable routes with few passengers (unfortunately, this means routes towards the villages) and increase the prices.
After the summer holidays, several municipalities will have to decide how to find the extra money needed to keep the public transportation system running. If in North Denmark, several municipalities already decided to close down routes, in Næstved and Holbæk they will try to move money from other parts of the local budget.
A committee of experts has already been established by the government in May 2023 to rethink public transport in rural areas. A report is expected to be ready by the end of 2024.
The political arena
The commission for the wellbeing of children and young people: In the light of the increasing dissatisfaction among children and young people (up to 25 years old), the government established a commission that needs to come up with solutions (which could be translated into legislation) by the end of 2024. The commission will focus on four areas - communities and relationships; early intervention and prevention; courage and resilience; and a good digital life.
For the fifth year in a row, Denmark is the least corrupt country in the world: At the same time, the Danish Parliament refuses to apply initiatives that would prevent corruption. Since 2014, GRECO (Council of Europe anti-corruption unit) has tried to get Denmark to implement four initiatives that would prevent corruption among politicians. For example, the members of the Danish Parliament do not have to follow a “code of conduct” (ethical guidelines), nor do they have to disclose if there is a risk of conflict of interest.
Denmark joins Bosnia-Herzegovina, Moldova, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Turkey, as the countries that refuse to implement GRECO’s recommendations for corruption prevention.
The President of the Parliament said in 2021 that the recommendations go against the Constitution (as the activity of the elected members cannot be regulated), and in his own words, “In Denmark, we have a political tradition where it is a position of trust to be elected to the Folketing. With us, you are responsible for the voters. And finally, a free and independent press is best at keeping an eye on any conflicts of interest”.
Just because Denmark refuses the anti-corruption measures doesn’t mean there is proof of corruption among politicians.
Danish Economy HQ
3.1% inflation in July: For the first time since October 2022, the inflation rate has increased. In June 2023, the inflation rate was 2.5%. Why? Electricity is more expensive after the full electricity tax was reintroduced this month. For the first six months of 2023, we paid a discounted electricity tax of 0.8 øre per kwh. Now, it is 69 øre per Kwh more expensive.
83,500 unemployed people in July: The unemployment rate is 2.8%. Compared to the previous month, the number of unemployed people is 1,200 higher. This is the highest level of unemployment since the summer of 2021.
173,000 people on the RKI register: The register is like a list that companies and debt collectors use when people or businesses don't pay their bills. If you're on this list, it can make it harder to borrow money or buy things in installments. 2,100 people have been added to the register since the beginning of 2023.
While most people in Denmark have “rock-solid private finances” (according to the director of the register), the more vulnerable ones have been seriously affected by the inflation and the rising interest rates. It became more difficult for them to pay bills on time or even at all.
8.4 million overnight stays in Danish summer houses: In the first six months of 2023, hundreds of thousands of tourists (both Danish and international) have made their way to the myriad of summer houses, making it quite profitable for the owners. Compared to the first six months of 2019, there has been an increase of over 1 million overnight stays. The numbers have been provided by Statistics Denmark.
16.5 million overnight stays in hotels, summer houses, campsites, hostels, etc. in the first six months of 2023 in Denmark (the highest total number ever for the first part of the year)
5.7 million overnight stays are represented by tourists from abroad (mainly from Germany, Sweden, Norway, UK, USA and Netherlands).
All municipalities in Denmark have publicly accessible charging stations: The number of charging stations for electric cars has doubled in one year, from 6,779 in July 2022 to 13,641 today. There is one public charging station for every 11 electric cars in Denmark.
1.2 million fewer pigs this year: The pig population in Denmark has fallen by almost 10%. There are 11 million pigs today. This is one of the lowest numbers in decades. Denmark was Europe’s fifth biggest pork producer in 2022.
For more than 100 years, the production of pigs and pig meat has been a major source of income for Denmark. Approx. 90% of production is exported and is thereby essential to the Danish economy and the balance of trade.
More than 70 percent of Danish pig meat production is exported to other EU countries, and the remaining part is exported to countries outside the EU.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
The population of Denmark increased by 2,757 people in the second quarter of 2023: The total today is 5,944,145 people. 14,394 births and 14,003 deaths. 18,569 immigrants and 15,900 emigrants. The population increase is due to the higher immigration rate compared to emigration. 39% of the immigrants are European Union citizens.
NATO troops are crossing Denmark: In the next few weeks, you'll see American military equipment and vehicles, along with American and British soldiers, at the ports in Aarhus and Esbjerg. They're doing this because they need to move a lot of vehicles and containers to Eastern Europe using trucks and trains. Three ships, "ARC Patriot", "ARC Independence", and "ARC Endurance", will be in the Aarhus and Esbjerg Harbors. About 300 soldiers from the USA and Britain will help with this. Denmark is a central point for sending military equipment and soldiers to the Baltic Sea area.
52 kilos of meat a year per person: We eat an average of one kilo of meat per week. Roughly, three times more than what the official dietary guidelines recommend (350 grams). What is the good news? Meat is a good source of protein and various vitamins and minerals. What is the bad news? There is a proven correlation between certain cancers and a high intake of processed meat. Meat production is also bad for the climate. For more information, watch this “Explainer” video from DR.
Healthcare with Punitha Kumar
The world’s leading insulin maker, Novo Nordisk, is in for a really "sweet deal" this year after garnering 19.4 billion DKK in net profit for the second quarter of the year, the company unveiled recently. The figure comes in the wake of its popular diabetes drug Ozempic and weight loss drug Wegovy soaring in high demand and worldwide sales. In a press release, CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen said, “We are serving more patients than ever before. The performance in the first six months has enabled us to raise the outlook for the full year.” Following these results, the company now forecasts a 27-33% increase in annual sales, compared with the 24-30% announced in mid-April.
More Danes are buying melatonin from pharmacies in Germany, DR reported. Melatonin, a sleep hormone produced in the brain, is a prescription drug in Denmark. However, in Germany, it can be bought over the counter as it is considered a dietary supplement. In its report, DR spoke to five German pharmacies, which all said melatonin was sold daily to Danish customers and that the number of customers has doubled in recent years. Due to problems that may arise from self-medication and inaccurate dosages, the Danish Medicines Agency has advised against buying melatonin without proper education about the drug. For more information on melatonin, please visit the agency’s site here.
Education
Alcohol-free start for youth educations: The Danish Health Authority recommended to the gymnasiums and vocational schools a two-month ban on allowing alcohol at school parties. Why? Young people in Denmark drink the most in Europe. The majority of schools have decided to follow the recommendations.
Climate
The demand for oil has never been higher: Instead of being on a path to reduce dependence on oil, we are actually increasing demand on the global level. Throughout 2023, the demand has grown by 2.2 million barrels per day, making a total of 102.2 million barrels used globally every day. China is a big reason for this increase, accounting for 70% of the growth. The other big reason is air traffic; there are more planes than ever in our skies.
A barrel of oil is about 159 liters.
According to researchers, the burning of fossil fuels such as oil is the main cause of climate change.
Culture, Religion and Royals with Cicek Eris
Den Kongelige Opera is making a final return this year with captivating open-air events. Over the past 18 years, these summer concerts have consistently enthralled audiences of all ages, and become a cherished tradition. Thousands gather annually to enjoy these free concerts, and if you're also eager to preview the upcoming opera season, you can explore the program details here or you will have to wait until next year.
Announcement Board
This section is curated by Cicek Eris. If you have events you want us to include here please send an e-mail to denmarkhappenings@gmail.com. You can check out her newsletter about cultural events in Denmark here.
Esbjerg, 17th Aug, 17:00-20:00: Climate Fresk is a hands-on workshop that helps people understand and take action on climate change. The workshop gives the opportunity to learn a lot in a short period of time and is meant for both novices and experts. If you also want to learn the fundamental science behind climate change, register here.
Odense, 7th Sep, 17:30-20:00: Would you like to play some basketball, get some exercise, and meet new people? Then here’s your chance. Just put on comfy attire and shoes, and join the DSIO Basket club, regardless of your skill level.