Region East Denmark; Investment Simulation Game; Cohousing
Last Week in Denmark (15.09-22.09) Episode 31 Year 4
Editor HQ
State of Denmark
Autumn is officially here, and we all know what that means… it’s lottery time.
Which school will be closed next? What bus route will be canceled? Which service for the elderly will be cut? Head to your municipality website and find out the (probably not so good) news.
While the state talks about having more money in the Treasury than accounted for, most municipalities are getting a black belt in the so-called “savings” exercise. Gone are the days when they could talk about next year's budget as an opportunity to bring another idea to life; now budget talks have become a nightmare for the local politicians. Why? Simply put, municipalities need more money to run the welfare services we are used to than they are able to collect from taxes.
True, this is not an image that applies to every municipality. Not everyone is suffering. Some municipalities are talking about lowering their taxes and investing in various new ideas. Why? They have more people that pay income taxes.
As you can imagine, without a proper system of wealth redistribution, large inequalities can appear between the municipalities. Unfortunately, the current system is not properly functioning, and the level, quality, and coverage of welfare services differ significantly between municipalities.
Local governments are responsible for most welfare services (childcare, schools, elderly care, and infrastructure, to name a few) and are supposed to be mostly self-financed from tax collection. That’s why we have different income tax levels depending on the municipality we live in. Poorer municipalities tend to have higher tax levels, while the rich ones can afford to keep it low.
It’s no wonder that 50 out of the 98 mayors have recently sent an open letter to the government to ask to reform the way welfare services are financed. Rich municipalities should contribute to the budgets of poor municipalities to ensure equality in welfare services. Or at least the state should cover the difference. Leaving rural, small municipalities that have a disproportionate amount of dependents (elderly, children) to fend for themselves will only lead to their bankruptcy in the long run.
Thank you for reading and sharing Last Week in Denmark!
P.S. Don’t forget you have local and regional political rights (voting, running for office) in Denmark. As a European citizen, you have access from day one, and as a non-European, after four years.
LWID Universe
Linkedin: Kalpita Bhosale made her debut with an article about the Nordic India Summit, while Aryna Creangă wrote about the “My voice, my choice” campaign.
Meet us in Copenhagen at the International Citizen Days (September 27-28). Together with the Aalborg Institute for Development, we will host an event called “Why is starting a business in Denmark easier than finding a job?” with Sissi Bak, Diana Medrea-Mogensen, Kate Dahl, and Leslea Petersen. When and where? Red Stage at 13:15 on Friday.
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Danish Politics HQ
Weekly political overview
The local politicians in Copenhagen decided to name a town square in Nørrebro, “Palæstina Plads”. Enhedslisten (Red-Green), SF (Socialists), Radikale Venstre (Social Liberals), and Alternativet (Greens) made the proposal.
Every third mayor in Denmark (there are 98) experiences excessive work pressure. The work week for a mayor is 80 hours on average. Last year alone, four mayors went on indefinite sick leave (Halsnæs, Viborg, Struer, and Bornholm).
The EU Commissioner from Denmark, Dan Jørgensen, has been proposed for the Energy and Housing portfolio. If he passes the hearings in the European Parliament, then he will be in charge of the Energy Directorate-General (like a Ministry at the European level) and the taskforce on housing.
Who are the six vice presidents of the European Commission? Henna Virkkunen (Finland) on Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy; Stephane Sejourne (France) on Prosperity and Industrial Strategy; Rafaelle Fitto (Italy) on Cohesion and Reforms; Kaja Kallas (Estonia) on Foreign Affairs; Roxana Minzatu (Romania) on People, Skills, and Preparedness; and Teresa Ribera (Spain) on Competition.
Focus
Say hello to Region East Danmark: Denmark will go from five regions to four. According to the healthcare reform presented this week, the Capital Region and the Zealand (Sjælland) Region will be united into one region called Region East Denmark. Most likely, the transition to the new region will be completed in November 2025, when the next local and regional elections will take place.
The new region will represent 2.8 million people, almost half the population of Denmark.
Why? Region Zealand has struggled with a lack of doctors and medical staff for a long time now. There are almost 4 doctors per 1,000 patients in Zealand, while there are almost 6 doctors per 1,000 patients in the capital.
What does it mean for doctors in the Capital Region? They will also take shifts in the Zealand hospitals. A slightly longer commute is on the menu.
50 initiatives in healthcare reform: Besides the establishment of a new region, there are five other very important initiatives in the reform package.
GP doctors that choose to settle in areas where there is a shortage will be paid more.
Specialist doctors from major hospitals must also take shifts in smaller regional hospitals. Plus, there will be a ceiling on how many specialists can be hired by one hospital.
140 more study places for people who want to study medicine. 70 places at Aalborg University, 50 places at South Denmark University, and 20 places at Copenhagen University - Køge.
New rights for the chronically ill. Chronic disease patients will be referred to a “pakkeforløb” similar to the one cancer patients receive.
The establishment of 17 health councils (sundhedsråd). Each council will be formed from elected local and regional council members. They will be given responsibility for developing local health services, and then a number of health tasks will be moved from the municipalities to the new health councils.
Danish Economics HQ
Weekly economics overview
Did you know that a Danish company invented the first-aid doll in 1983? The company is called Ambu, and it was founded in 1937 by the German engineer Holger Hesse. Over the years, they have invented several devices that improved medical practice. Starting with the pulse oximeter in 1937 and the ventilation balloon in 1956 until the latest invention in 2009, the disposable endoscope. Another reminder that our most important resource in Denmark is innovation.
Private pension companies are preparing for what happens in case of war. Several companies sent a letter to their customers saying that in case of a force majeure (f.ex., war), they might need to both increase the price of life insurance and also reduce coverage.
After a 19-year legal battle, Cook Medical has been sentenced to pay 1.7 billion DKK in unpaid taxes. Through “creative accounting” to avoid paying taxes in Denmark, the company used two shell companies in Sweden to lend money to the company in Denmark and send the interest on the loans to another company in the Cayman Islands.
You have the right to retrieve unused money from an anonymous “rejsekort.” If there is a validity period in place, you can still get the money back up to one year after expiration. If there is no agreed validity period, the money can be retrieved at any time.
Focus
Join the “Last Week in Denmark” league in the Børsens aktiespil, the largest investment simulation game in Denmark. You can sign up here for the game.
Concept? You get 500,000 DKK fictive money to invest in company shares. The player who has grown their money pot the most by November 26 wins a car (KIA EV3).The second prize is 100,000 DKK, and third prize is a travel voucher of 40,000 DKK.
Besides playing for the large prizes, we are playing for league prizes, which will vary depending on how many players sign up for it.
The value of the shares will follow the real-life stock market changes. The game’s a great opportunity to see if you have daytrader skills.
Entrepreneurship Corner
Free online courses provided by the Aalborg Institute for Development. Sign up here for “Doing business in Denmark” (November 7- 28) and here for “Business economics for entrepreneurs” (November 19 - December 12).
EU-funded opportunities for your company
If you had a minimum of 3 full-time employees and at least 2 million DKK in revenue in 2023, you can access a voucher of 100,000 DKK. It can be used for system integration, product optimization, e-commerce platforms, business intelligence, etc.
If you had 2 full-time employees in 2023, you can access a voucher of 50,000 DKK. It can be used to improve your digital security and become GDPR compliant in the way you handle your customers’ and employees’ data.
If you have a CVR number and made at least one sale, you can access a voucher of 5,200 DKK, which you can use to hire consultancy or access to a course.
Contact info@aalborgid.com if you are interested in any of the opportunities.
Tip of the week! You can earn up to 50,000 DKK per year on the side without being registered as a business and without collecting VAT (moms). However, you will pay tax on the entire amount. If you register, you can at least deduct costs first. Be aware of potential visa implications if you are non-EU.
Daily Life in Denmark HQ
Insights into the Danish way of life
This week marks the second time in the last 365 days when Queen Margrethe II spooked the Danes - the first one being the night of New Year’s Eve 2023, when she announced she would leave the throne to her son Frederik. This time, news outlets have let us know that the former Head of State was hospitalized after falling at Fredensborg Castle. Although she reports to be doing well, it is a reminder that one of Denmark’s longest-standing icons will not last forever. Queen Margrethe, also known as Daisy, is now 84 years old.
Understanding her role in the country’s history is one of those things that constitute Danishness, and although history cannot be condensed in 300 characters, we can give you a quick idea of why she is important to Danes.
Until 1953, Denmark had Salic law, which prohibited women from ascending to the throne. Then her father, Frederik IX, had three daughters. And so the Constitution was changed. Her life had been marked by change since the beginning: the Queen was born on April 16, 1940, just one week before the Nazis would occupy Denmark.
During her life, she has taken an interest in many things outside of royal matters. She is a big archaeology enthusiast and has participated in digs in Denmark, Italy, and Egypt. She is also a great artist and has become well known for her paintings, church textiles, and even her costume design for the Danish Royal Ballet and for the Danish film “The Wild Swans.” The most iconic of all her artistic creations is perhaps the illustrated Danish editions of “The Lord of the Rings,” which she did under the pseudonym Ingahild Grathmer. Other than Daisy, some have nicknamed her “Smoking Queen," as until her official quitting in 2023, she was famously known for her abundant smoking.
In terms of her role as a monarch, during her time as a queen, she managed to modernize Danish royalty quite a bit. In 2009, she fully modernized the inheritance system and introduced absolute primogeniture, which allows the eldest child - regardless of gender - to inherit the throne. In 2022, she removed the Danish royal titles from all of her grandchildren who are not descendants of the now King Frederik X. In a full Danish-style egalitarian move, she announced the decision had been made so they could “shape their own existence” independently of their belonging to a royal family.
Weekly overview
From 2026, you will be able to read the family doctor (GP) notes from every visit you make. A new collective agreement between the regional councils and the trade union of general practitioners will give you access to the notes made about your state of health via the Min Laege app or Sundhed.dk. You will also be able to share those notes with other medical professionals.
The fertility rate in Denmark is 1.49 children per woman. To maintain the current population size, we need an average of 2.1 children per woman. Since 2008, when the fertility rate was at 1.88 (the highest in the last five decades), the cohort of children born every year has been smaller and smaller. In 2023, 57,469 children were born in Denmark to parents with an average age of 30 (women) and 32 (men).
Most countries in the world are suffering from low fertility rates. The worst situation is in South Korea, with 0.7 children per woman. Thank goodness for immigration!
Cohousing (bofællesskab) is becoming more popular in Denmark. What is cohousing? An intentional, self-governing, cooperative community where residents live in private homes often clustered around shared space. There are 15 to 20 cohousing communities established every year (400 in Denmark so far).
Denmark receives criticism from the United Nations Disability Committee. Why? The conditions for people with disabilities in Denmark are getting worse every year. Among other things, the criticism focuses on failed inclusion in school, the use of coercion in psychiatry, and the use of force in residences, as well as the fact that available support varies by municipality.
Sailing brought the most medals for Denmark at the Olympics. 32 medals out of 215 from all past Olympics have come from sailing. However, in the last two Olympics, Denmark won only two medals, both for Anne-Marie Rindom. Team Denmark plans to downgrade the Danish Sailing Union from world-class to elite, considering the weak results from the last editions of the Olympics. This will mean less money in state subsidies for the sport.
A pizzeria from Copenhagen received 76th place on the list of the world’s best pizza. Pizzeria Surt is the only one from Denmark to obtain a global ranking. Why? The sourdough (35-hour fermentation process), pickled vegetables, and local sourcing.
International Community in Denmark HQ
Sign a European Citizens Initiative: September 28 marks the International Safe Abortion Day. European Citizens’ Initiative and My Voice, My Choice are collecting signatures to make abortions accessible for all in Europe. You can sign here. To further support the initiative, you can meet the Copenhagen Feminist Forum at 12:00 on the 28th at Nørreport Station, where you will receive materials with QR codes to help you share information about the campaign with others.
International Community Lolland-Falster has been nominated to receive Lolland Municipality's Integration Award for 2024. Lolland Municipality has received a total of six nominations for the Integration Award this year.
Since 2016, Lolland Municipality has awarded an annual award to private individuals, associations, or companies that have done something special for the integration of citizens with an international background in the municipality.
The chairman of the Lolland Integration Council, Remzi Grepi, emphasizes that the presentation of the Integration Award is primarily a thank you and tribute to this year's award recipient.At the same time, it is also a good opportunity to put a general focus on the fact that everyone in the municipality – regardless of whether they have an international or a Danish background – must have the best possible conditions to be a part of both the local community and the labor market.
"It’s such an honor to be nominated again this year, and with the main goal of our association being Building Bridges Across Cultures, integration is one of our key initiatives. We on the board all work hard to ensure we are helping internationals to integrate and find a home in Denmark." says Summer Juul Andersen, Chairperson for the International Community Lolland Falster.
Announcement Board
Esbjerg, September 26, 13:00-17:00: Annual Career Fair – Meet exciting companies and explore career options in the Esbjerg area at South Jutland’s largest career and job fair, where students, graduates or job seekers can engage in direct dialogue with more than 60 different companies from the Esbjerg area.
Esbjerg, September 26, 16:30-18:30: Kids in Danish Public Schools – Municipal bi-lingual school consultants from Esbjerg will talk about the ways of schooling and teaching in Denmark, and about expectations for parents and children from the Danish Public school system.
Copenhagen, September 27-28: International Citizen Days 2024 – This welcome event brings together public authorities, private organizations, and local communities for two days of endless guidance on housing, job, and social life. Friday is all about job and career; Saturday is designed to help you and your family build a supportive community.
Vejle, October 2, 17:00 - 20:00: How to Thrive in DK Winter: A Hygge Evening - Are you an international in Denmark? This event will help you beat the winter blues as skillfully as the locals do. Come along to build connections, get tips and tricks to be prepared for winter and learn about winter offerings from local services. The evening will be a fun one of chatting and interactive learning with fellow internationals, local coaches and Danes. And, of course, yummy food! The first 40 sign-ups will receive a 100kr dining voucher.
Copenhagen, October 26, 09:00 - 16:00: Femme Lead Career Breakthrough - The largest career conference for women in the Nordics. The agenda includes Personal Branding and Thought Leadership, Career Promotion and Progression, Manage Stress and Well-being, Embracing Lifelong Learning, Crafting a Portfolio. The ticket grants you access to the full-day event, and you will receive a complimentary magazine from Sindroms (blue edition), a goodie bag, and catering throughout the day.
International media about Denmark HQ
Denmark’s Jørgensen tapped for top EU energy and housing job (POLITICO)
Denmark’s approach to decarbonizing offers lessons worth replicating (CommonWealth)
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