Last Week in Denmark (29.05 - 05.06) Episode 21 Year 2
Denmark chose to lead in Europe; The end of DF; Gasoline prices
Editor HQ
Call for curators / reporters🐱
After writing the newsletter “Last Week in Denmark” for more than a year and a half (with a few exceptions), I realized that I could use some help. Attempting to keep an overview over every aspect of Danish society can be a tiresome process. Therefore, I decided to share the glory of empowering the international community in Denmark with other writers. 😎
If you believe in the mission of “Last Week in Denmark” (to empower people with information), have a few hours on your hands (every week), and the ability to write, then you are welcome to join our crew. N.B! We are talking about volunteer positions. 🐱👤
Positions available:
🎭Culture Curator / Reporter (If you are interested in following the developments within the Danish film, music, art, and literature, etc.)
🎡Sports Curator / Reporter (If you are interested in following the developments in the Danish sports arena)
🌍Climate Curator / Reporter (If you are interested to follow the developments within the green transition efforts in Denmark)
🟦European Union Curator / Reporter (If you are interested to follow the development within the European Union institutions / other Europe-wide events)
💚Regional Curator / Reporter (One for each of the five regions) (If you are interested to cover the regional news and bring to light local events from the international community)
If you want to apply and/or ask questions, send me a mail at narcis1george@gmail.com
Ukraine HQ
100 days since the invasion of Ukraine started… killing thousands, displacing millions, and triggering global energy and food crises.
Putin failed to topple the democratic government in Kyiv led by President Volodymyr Zelensky and has strengthened both NATO and the EU. Sweden and Finland have applied to join NATO, while Denmark will join the EU military cooperation.
The Russian military’s fighting capacity has been reduced by about 20 percent.
Europe is facing up to the fact that this could be a protracted, drawn-out conflict with no end in sight.
There's alarm about a looming food crisis, as tons of grain remain trapped in Ukraine. The head of the African Union Macky Sall will meet Putin in the Russian city of Sochi today with the aim of freeing up grain and fertilizers.
Others
Russia stopped delivery of gas to Denmark: On the 1st of June, Gazprom (Russia’s gas company) announced that it stopped delivery of gas to Ørsted, due to the refusal of the Danish company to pay for the gas in rubles (Russian currency). However, there is no direct pipeline of gas between Russia and Denmark and therefore Russian gas can be acquired indirectly from other EU states.
Denmark joins Poland, Bulgaria, and Finland in the group of countries that refused to pay in rubles and therefore had the gas delivery shut off.
There is enough gas in the storage to cover the needs of the people and companies in Denmark for another 4 to 5 months.
The gas acquired on the European market will be more expensive and therefore the price is expected to rise even further this year.
Danish Politics HQ
The political game
The end of DF: The infamous Danish People’s Party is, after causing grief for the international community for decades, on its way out. The referendum has been their last chance to revive and come back into the spotlight.
The former DF president Kristian Thulesen Dahl is planning to launch a new anti-immigration party together with the former Venstre minister Inger Støjberg, which will be a strong competitor for DF’s voter segment.
Kristoffer Hjort Storm, the only alderman (local government minister) from DF has resigned from the party saying that it is on a “self-destructive spiral”.
1st June Referendum
66,9% for the “Yes” side: The people of Denmark have voted to join the European Union military and defense cooperation. This is a historical moment for Denmark as the country gets closer to the core of the European Union, by removing one of the four opt-outs. What happens next?
Denmark will officially join the EU military and defense cooperation on 1st July 2022.
The political parties will start negotiations on Denmark’s role within the EU military and defense cooperation.
The government is interested in joining the following missions: anti-piracy in Somalia; peacekeeping in Libya and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Venstre (Liberal Party) wants Denmark to join some of the 60 PESCO (EU Army) projects.
Low turnout: Only 65,8% of the Danish citizens voted in the 1st of June referendum. This is the second-lowest voting presence, after the referendum in 2014.
The Danish opt-outs: To stay in the European Union, Denmark negotiated four opt-outs from the EU treaty in 1992 - defense; justice; euro, and EU citizenship. Since then, many prime ministers have attempted to remove the opt-outs, in order to bring Denmark closer to the European Union. Mette Frederiksen, is the first prime minister in 30 years, that manages to remove an opt-out (defense) by winning a referendum. N.B! An opt-out means that Denmark doesn’t participate in EU cooperation in that field.
In 2015, a referendum to remove the justice opt-out failed, as the “No” side won.
In 2000, a referendum to remove the euro opt-out failed, as the “No” side won
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, said that there will not be another referendum on the other opt-outs during her mandate.
Danish Economy HQ
People vs. insurance companies: It often happens that the insurance companies delay giving money in cases of accidents at the workplace. Now, the Supreme Court has decided that the insurance companies need to pay interest for the time that passes from the accident until the payment is made. This will make it expensive for them to drag out the cases.
The case has been brought in front of the Supreme Court by the HK trade union.
All the previous cases in which a long time has passed from accident to payment will be reopened, so that the insurance companies can pay the proper interest rate to the victims.
Wolt Drive: The Finnish delivery company is now expanding into deliveries from online shops to customers. They are challenging the Danish market dominated by GLS, PostNord and Dao. How? 30 minute deliveries, something that their competitors cannot promise. Wolt has 4,500 deliverers all over Denmark.
Warning from the Danish Economic Council: The economic experts from the most respected economic independent institution in Denmark are warning the government to slow down spending, advising against giving people a “heat check” and/or other income supplements this year. Why? More money in society means a higher demand for products which leads to inflation. Basically, the less you spend these days the better.
Gasoline price: In Denmark, the price for gasoline has increased 26% this year. The same happened for almost every other country in the world. In some countries (like Germany, Sweden, Ireland) they decided to reduce the tax on gasoline to make it cheaper. Denmark’s tax minister refuses to consider the idea of reducing the taxes, saying that raising the deductions is good enough.
If one liter of gasoline is 18,69 DKK, then 8,42 DKK represent taxes (energy, carbon, and VAT). There is a citizen initiative with 89,000 signatures asking for all the taxes on gasoline to be removed.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Citizenship Test: To become a Danish citizen, you need among other requirements to pass a citizenship test that validates your knowledge of Danish culture, history, geography, and values. You can test yourself on this page, to see if you should apply for the next round. There are two chances per year to take the citizenship test.
Lynetteholm: Sludge from the construction of the artificial island “Lynetteholm '' will no longer be dumped in the Køge Bay, after a majority in the Danish parliament decided against it. The sludge will instead be sealed into the foundation of the island. The sludge dumping scandal started after the Swedish authorities complained about it.
Ageism in the trade unions: The European Union Court of Justice decided that the Danish trade unions cannot stop members of a certain age from beingcandidates for leadership positions. The ruling was made after a leader of the HK trade union (63 years old) complained that she was forced to step down due to reaching the age limit.
Online platform for lonely people: Called Boblberg, the platform has today more than 445,000 users. The purpose of the platform is to help you find new friends, by joining different activity bubbles. It is free to make an account, the functions within the platform depend on if your municipality has made an agreement with the platform. 52 out of the 98 municipalities have such an agreement.
Sport
Denmark defeated the world champions in men’s football: In the first match of the Nations League, Denmark defeated France (2:1), thanks to the two goals from Andreas Cornelius.
Local news
Aalborg: After the safety during the night debate started by the tragic loss of life in February (First, 21-year-old Oliver Ibæk Lund drowned on his way home from the city. And the following weekend, 22-year-old Mia Skadhauge Stevn was killed on her way home from the party street Jomfru Ane Gade.), several initiatives have been approved by the local government to make it safer in Aalborg.
11 thermal cameras will be installed alongside the waterfront, together with more lighting and warning signs.
Safety zones will be installed around the city (they will be covered, well lighted and surveilled by cameras), where young people can wait to be picked up by taxi, parents or friends.
Public toilets and urinals in the area between the party street and the waterfront.
European Union HQ
Croatia will adopt the “euro”: From 2023, Croatia will be the 20th EU member state to use the “euro” as the national currency. Other applicants, like Bulgaria and Romania didn’t meet the fiscal requirements to adopt the “euro”. Bulgaria failed only one requirement, while Romania didn’t fulfill any.
Our World
Turkey: The U.N. has agreed to change Turkey’s official name at the organization to Türkiye, the way it is written and pronounced in Turkish, following a request from Ankara.