Last Week in Denmark (26.09 - 03.10) Episode 32
Waiting time for a psychologist; Early voting; Third vaccine shot; Mink ban
Editor HQ
From the 5th of October, you can go and vote early for the Danish local and regional elections. You have until the 12th of November to vote early, by going to the nearest “bibliotek” or “borgerservice”. You can vote early if you don’t have time to vote on 16th November 2021.
Who can vote?
You are a citizen of the European Union, Norway or Iceland.
You have arrived before 16 November 2017 (for those coming from outside the European Union).
You have arrived before 31 January 2020 (for the citizens of the United Kingdom).
What do you need?
Just your yellow card and a picture ID.
How?
When you vote early, you write on a piece of paper, the name of the candidate you support. Remember, you have two votes, one for local and one for regional.
Public Health HQ
Status: 76% of the population has been vaccinated (4,455,375 people). 74,5% of the population has received the second vaccine shot (4,371,778 people). 83,2% have received Pfizer/BioNTech; 12,3% Moderna; 3,4% AstraZeneca and 1,1% Johnson&Johnson. The region with the highest vaccination rate - North Denmark (77,9%).
Corona infection status: There is an average of 400 new infected people every day. 83 people are hospitalized. The five municipalities with the highest rate of infection are: Albertslund, Brøndby, Ishøj, Vallensbæk and Køge. Check out more data here.
Travel Guidelines: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updates every week (on Saturday) the travel guidelines, by dividing the world into three colours (red, yellow and green). This week's changes - Italy, Spain, Southern Sweden, Madeira, Most of France and Norway switched to green. If you travel from a yellow country to Denmark, you need to have a corona pass (vaccinated, infected before or recently tested). If you are vaccinated, the colour system doesn’t apply to you, you can travel anywhere you want.
Are you among the 50,000 people in Denmark that received the Johnson&Johnson vaccine? You will receive an invitation to get vaccinated with a mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna, at your choice). The Danish Health Agency decided to make this offer after studies showed low protection against corona variants from a Johnson&Johnson vaccine.
The Danish Health Agency started to vaccinate with a third shot (booster) of people over 85 years old. The agency announced that the booster offer will be given to everyone over 65 years old this autumn.
Youtube will ban misinformation related to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Danish Politics HQ
Danish minority in Germany: After more than 60 years, the Danish minority in Germany managed to obtain a seat in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag).
Mink ban until 2023: The minister of Agriculture, Rasmus Prehn announced that a majority in the Danish Parliament will extend the ban on breeding mink until the end of 2022. Why? The Statens Serum Institut considers mink herds to be a risk for public health.
Waiting time for a psychologist: Young people suffering from anxiety or depression need to wait up to 14 weeks to see a psychologist (under the free access scheme available to ages 18 to 24). According to experts, the 14 weeks period can increase the severity of the issue. Solutions? The psychologists need to take more young people in (they prioritize now the private customers), says the regional governments. Or allow more psychologists to join the public scheme, says the psychologists trade union.
24 climate initiatives: Denmark needs to reduce emissions by 70% until 2030 and to become climate neutral until 2050. The climate minister, Dan Jørgensen presented a roadmap of 24 initiatives that will be implemented until 2025.
2021: Green public procurement strategy; Carbon capture plan; Development of green fuels; Green gas strategy;
2022: Campaign to encourage business and citizens to be more eco-friendly; Green industry conversion strategy;
2023: Waste management reform; Agriculture reform; Focus on collective transport
2024: Development of green technologies;
2025: Social Climate Fund;
New bike paths: The ministry of transport announced 27 new bike paths. See here if there is a new bike path coming in your municipality. Total investment - 270 million dkk.
The end of “noisy” motorcycles: The ministry of transport will make a law proposal to give new powers to the Danish Transport Authority. The agency will be able to stop motorcycles for an inspection and investigate if the exhaust has been tampered with (so that the noise is higher than the allowed limits). If it passes in the Parliament, it will be applied from 1st January 2022.
Danish Economy HQ
Interest rates: The Danish National Bank decided to lower interest rates by 0.1%.
Fraud: 2021 has been a good year for criminals in Denmark. They managed to fool the people in Denmark of 113 million dkk, by selling them investment opportunities and other scams. This is the largest amount ever. So people, when an opportunity is too good to be true, you might want to stay away from it.
The students from East Jutland municipalities will have, as part of the curriculum, one week within the working life, at a job of their choice.
Safety first: The ministry of trade has decided to listen to the recommendation from the Systemic Risk Council and re quire banks to set aside 1 dkk for every 100 dkk invested în high-risk assets. The so-called “countercyclical capital buffer” entered into effect on 30th September. Why? Extra protection in case of a financial meltdown.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Cardboard shortage: Companies wait for cardboard for packaging for up to six weeks (compared to seven days - six months ago). The price of cardboard has also increased by 40% compared to 2020. Why should you care? There will be delays in receiving your online shopping in the next months.
Maternity wards at overcapacity: There is a baby boom in Denmark at the moment and the maternity wards around the country are barely keeping up with it. The situation is especially desperate in the Capital Region of Denmark (despite recent massive investments). What is the problem? Midwives are refusing to take shifts in the maternity wards unless they get a salary raise. Also, despite there being dozens of open positions as midwives, nobody is applying.
510 cars: The police have confiscated 510 cars from “insane” drivers in the last six months. There is a new law since the beginning of the year, that allows the police to confiscate cars from drivers that go with “double the speed limit” or put in danger other drivers.
Funds for events: Activities aimed at promoting debate and information about the European Union in Denmark can be funded with Europa-Nævnet grants. Anyone with an idea can apply. Deadline: 11th October.
The World in 2021 HQ
Same-sex marriage: Switzerland legalized same-sex marriage after a referendum won by the “yes” side with 64%.
Abortion: San Marino legalized abortion (up to 12 weeks of pregnancy or where there is a risk to the mother health) after a referendum won by the “yes” side with 77%.
First Arab female prime minister: Tunisian President Kais Saied appointed Najla Bouden Romdhane as the first female prime minister in Tunisia and the Arab world.
Iceland elections: Iceland looked to have elected a woman-majority parliament but a recount of votes showed there will still be more men than women in the chamber. Thirty women were elected to the 63-seat parliament. Only three countries - Rwanda, Cuba and Nicaragua - have more women than men in parliament.
Russia vs. Youtube: Russia has threatened to ban YouTube if it does not reinstate two German-language channels backed by the Russian state that were deleted for violating Covid misinformation guidelines.
Peru vs. gas companies: Peruvian prime minister Guido Bellido warned companies that drill for gas in the country to either pay higher taxes or face nationalization.
UK driver shortage: Panic buying of petrol and diesel in Britain caused serious disruption to the supply of fuel. The government placed the army on standby to help deliver fuel to petrol stations. There is a shortage of truck drivers in the United Kingdom after tens of thousands have left the country as a consequence of Brexit.
Expo 2020 Dubai: The United Arab Emirates has launched Expo 2020 Dubai, the world’s biggest cultural gathering. The Expo will run from October 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022, and will bring together more than 190 countries to explore new ideas, form new connections and collectively tackle some of the greatest global challenges of our time.
European Union HQ
German Federal Elections: The era of christian democracy led by Angela Merkel is over. The Social Democrats have won the elections (25,7%) and Olaf Scholz is most likely going to be the next chancellor of Germany. That is if he manages to create a ruling coalition with the Greens (14,8%) and the Liberals (11,5%), to have a majority in Bundestag.
Vaccine for mink in Finland: Farmers will vaccinate the country's entire population of mink against the coronavirus. The local authorities allowed an experimental vaccine to be used.
LGBT-free zones: Three regions in Poland renounced their status as an "LGBT-free zone" after pressure from the European Commission and activists. The declaration of "free of LGBT ideology" had been imposed in 2019 under heavy pressure from Catholic conservatives in the regions.
Hungary vs. Ukraine: Hungary and Russia signed a natural gas supply deal which will see Gazprom supply Hungary with 4.5 billion cubic metres of gas annually via Serbia and Austria for the next 15 years. Ukraine criticizes the gas pact, saying that it is a "purely political, economically unreasonable decision". In response, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accuses Ukraine of "meddling" in its internal affairs.
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: Cross-border exchange programme which gives new or aspiring entrepreneurs the chance to learn from experienced entrepreneurs running small businesses in other participating countries.
Time to move 2021 Contest: Write a 10 sentence story about European diversity and win some awesome prizes. Deadline: 4th October (12.00). Contest for young people between 13 and 30.
Jean Monnet Prize: Awarded annually, the prize recognises and celebrates achievements that contribute to supporting and strengthening European integration. Deadline: 9th October. Value: 1500 euro.
My Rights, My Voice Contest: The EU Delegation in Strasbourg and the Permanent Representations of Andorra and San Marino at the Council of Europe are launching a call for artistic video projects from children aged 10 to 17, reflecting children’s views on their rights. Deadline: 15th October.