Last Week in Denmark (08.05 - 15.05) Episode 18 Year 2
The end of high prices is coming! Courses in english for entrepreneurs; 48 hours guarantee for new mothers; Finland joins NATO
Editor HQ
Opportunity for entrepreneurs (including wannabe): Would you like courses in English aimed at international new and wannabe entrepreneurs? From how to open a business to how to run one in Denmark? Then please let us know what courses you would attend and which are needed, by completing this survey. Together with our partners, we shall be able to provide them in the near future.
Ukraine HQ
Refugees
Hotline for Ukrainian refugees: Red Cross Denmark has established a hotline for Ukrainian refugees (35 29 96 60) that can be used Monday to Friday (10 to 15). If you only speak Ukrainian or Russian, you can call on Tuesday or Thursday. What can you use the hotline for?
Help to book an appointment to see a doctor.
Practical help.
Be matched with a volunteer friend.
Language training and network cafes.
Clothes.
Red Cross Search Service: The search service can be contacted by email: tracing@rodekors.dk or tel: 35 25 92 00. You can use it to re-establish contact with family members if you were separated by war.
Danish Politics HQ
The political game
Inflation aid: It has become more expensive to live in Denmark and for some people that would mean less food on the table. To support those that are facing difficult times because of inflation, the government needs to find 3 billion DKK.
In the first round of negotiations, the government proposed a larger deficit in the budget law (basically to spend more money than we have). The other political parties refused the idea due to fears that it would further increase inflation.
Now, the government proposes to take 3 billion DKK from public investments. However, the other parties are still skeptical and there is a high chance for the negotiations to drag on for months. The expected help is not coming anytime soon.
Economists are against the idea of giving people in Denmark more money to spend during times of high inflation.
Two ministers received “en politisk næse”: In Denmark, when a minister makes a mistake, he/she can receive a warning from the Parliament, called “politisk næse”, which comes from old Norse and means shame/disgrace. A series of warnings can lead to a vote of no-confidence from the Parliament, which can lead to a minister’s dismissal. The ministers of Transport (Trine Bramsen) and Environment (Lea Wermelin) received such a warning due to “forgetting” to inform the Parliament about a critical letter from the Swedish minister of Environment against the planned dumping of millions of tonnes of sludge off Køge Bay, in relation to the artificial island “Lynetteholm”(Copenhagen).
A former minister is accused of revealing state secrets: Claus Hjort Frederiksen (former minister from Venstre - Liberal Party) has been accused of disclosing highly classified information. The Parliament must now vote if they will lift his parliamentary immunity. Due to the secret nature of the case, we don’t know what that information implied or to whom it was leaked.
New laws and strategies
1,5 billion DKK for the Arctic Defense: The government entered into an agreement with the majority of the parliamentary political parties to boost the Arctic defense capabilities. In cooperation with Naalakkersuisut (The Government of Greenland) a new basic military training will be established to strengthen Greenlandic citizens’ opportunity to take part in the defense of Greenland. Most of the money will go for surveillance drones and an air surveillance radar on the Faroe Islands.
Pensioners are welcomed on the job market: The government has reached an agreement with a majority of the parliamentary political parties to allow pensioners to earn an income from a job without affecting their pensions. However, this only applies to jobs that support the Ukrainian refugees, like day-care, kindergartens, schools, etc.
48 hours guarantee for new mothers: More midwives will be hired and more space will be made in the delivery wards so that new mothers can spend at least 2 days after birth in the hospital from 2023.
1st June Referendum
Read more about the 1st of June referendum in this article written by our editor Narcis George Matache.
“NO” Vote side: Only 3 political parties are campaigning for you to vote “NO” in the upcoming referendum: Enhedslisten (former communist, far-left party), DF (nationalist, right-wing party) and Nye Borgerlige (libertarian-nationalist, far-right party). It is interesting to see how the extremes are united in their hatred of the European project.
Enhedslisten has been caught promoting a lie “that Denmark will be forced to invest heavily in defense” if they join the European cooperation on defense. The ministry of Defense and experts have debunked the lie, showing clearly how the Danish Parliament is the only one that can decide on investments in Danish defense.
DFs claims “that Denmark will lose their veto right on the defense matters” have also been debunked by the experts.
You can use this test to see with which party you agree the most on the matter of European cooperation on defense.
The Danish defense industry loses millions because they cannot be part of the European Union defense cooperation projects.
Danish Economy HQ
The end of high prices: According to the ministry of finance, prices will return to normal, early next year, as inflation will drop under 2%. The economy is still going strong as we expect a 3,4% growth in 2022. The expectations are that in 2023, your salary will increase more than prices and therefore you will be able to afford more.
However, according to one of the Danish Industry directors, Leif Nielsen, food prices could stay high for a few years. Why? Severe droughts in several parts of the world; the war in Ukraine and uncertainty on the financial markets. Although, he did concede that a fall in energy prices will also mean cheaper food.
In the meantime, inflation keeps breaking records. The total consumer prices have increased with 6,7% since April 2021. This is the highest annual increase since 1984.
Energy bill: According to Forsyningstilsynet, the price of electricity for the average consumer has increased with 1,953 DKK per year. Compared to the end of 2021, in the first part of 2022, the price has increased by 18%. The price now per kWh is 321.55 øre. They also encourage you to check your energy bill and see if you might need to change providers.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Six months in prison: A 43-year old man from Esbjerg has been sentenced to six months in prison for threats against the prime minister on Facebook. Section 119 of the Penal Code protects people in public service from threats of violence.
Culture
Eurovision 2022: Denmark has again (for the second year in a row) failed to qualify for the finals of the music competition. Eurovision 2022 finals took place this Saturday in Torino (Italy). The results: Ukraine won the competition with a traditional/rap song. Moldova has been second most favorite among the public and the United Kingdom got the most points from the juries.
Local news
Copenhagen: After watching a documentary about how internationals get scammed by landlords in Copenhagen, Oliver Hancke decided to do something about it. He spent a few hours creating this website (rentalrules.dk) - a digital free guide to rental rules in Copenhagen.
European Union HQ
Greenland - clean energy superpower: The Greenlandic government is looking for investors and companies that wish to exploit the hydropower opportunities in two areas, Tasersiaq and Tarsartuup. The hydropower will be used to produce hydrogen, which will further be converted into fuel.
49 proposals for the future of the European Union: After a year of citizen assemblies all over the European Union, a final document with 49 citizen proposals has been presented. While many of the conference’s proposals do not require a change to the EU treaties, the most significant ones certainly do, such as granting the European Parliament the right of legislative initiative, abolishing unanimity on everything from foreign policy to tax matters, creating EU-wide referenda and making health a shared EU competence.
EU Treaty changes: The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, supports the idea of making changes to the European Union treaties (which are like a constitution of the Union) to implement the proposals made by the European Union citizens. Denmark, together with 12 other EU states, has made a formal statement that they are against any changes.
Macron’s new proposal: The French president used a speech on Europe Day to propose a “new European political community” that would include both EU and non-EU members. In this way, Ukraine and the United Kingdom could be included. Macron’s idea is also reflected in Enrico Letta’s idea to create a European Confederation for the countries that wish to join the European Union.
Finland is ready to join NATO: Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced that she endorses the move. A formal vote will be held in the Parliament (which is however expected to pass with a large majority). Russia already made a threatening statement against Finland, saying that it will use military force to defend its national interest.