The Week That Was, October 1st–7th, 2018

Politics/Economy:

Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen mapped out the government’s political platform in an opening speech to parliament seen by many as the start of the election campaign. During a heated opening debate the PM said nine out of ten refugees who come to Denmark end up staying permanently, which is ‘untenable’ in the long run, but defended the controversial Integration Training Programme aimed at getting non-western immigrants into the labour market.

The government suggested a 20% reduction in the DKK418,000 minimum annual salary requirement for a ‘green card’ to attract professionals from countries such as the USA, Canada, Singapore, and Japan – Integration Minister Inger Støjberg said every skilled foreign worker contributes more than DKK300,000 to the social system so they’re a ’good business’ for Denmark. She also said Denmark won’t be accepting any UN quota refugees this year, even though the government’s policies have drastically reduced the number of refugees and migrants heading for Denmark.

Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs Mette Bock came under fire inviting an anti-gay priest to give a sermon at Christiansborg Church ahead of the traditional opening of parliament.

The Social Democrats and Danish People’s Party (DPP) demanded ’straight answers’ from Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen regarding his plans to house failed asylum seekers at a location outside the EU.

The government proposed a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 and hybrid from 2035.

A new Danske Bank study showed the economic upswing has boosted private incomes – the average two-adult, two-child family has nearly 750 kroner more to spend more every month than in 2017 due to wages rising faster than prices and lower taxes.

The jobless rate dipped slightly in August as 600 people found work – 107,000 are now employed, or 3.9% of the workforce, the lowest since 2009.

Moody’s Investors Service said Denmark’s strong credit profile is supported by ‘high and evenly distributed wealth levels, a resilient and diversified economy, strong institutions and robust public finances’.

EU/Foreign Affairs:

Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said Russia’s disregard of international laws is ‘totally unacceptable’ after Dutch security services said they had expelled four Russians over the plot against the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) – top Danish swimmer Pernille Blume was amongst athletes targetted by Russian agents in 2016. Defence Minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen dismissed calls for a counter attack on Russian hackers after the Conservatives suggested a new Danish strategy to combat cyber warfare – ‘hack those that hack us’.

At a Copenhagen press conference alongside her Austrian counterpart, Herbert Kickl, Integration Minister Inger Støjberg said Denmark and Austria still haven’t found a country outside the EU willing to house failed asylum seekers.

Finance Minister Kristian Jensen warned that a ‘hard Brexit’ with no EU agreement could have ‘serious financial repercussions’ for Denmark, with a potential DKK20bn loss if GDP dips by 1% due to lost growth.

Margrethe Vestager acknowledged it’s unlikely she’ll be nominated for a second term as EU Competition Commissioner when her five-year term expires next year – she said Denmark – ‘or at least the government’ – doesn’t seem too enthusiastic about giving her a second mandate after next spring’s European elections.

A Danish proposal to reform the VAT system and reduce fraud was passed by the European Parliament.

The head of Greenland’s home rule government, Kim Kielsen, presented a new minority government on Tuesday, ending three weeks of political crisis in the autonomous Danish Arctic territory.

At a Greenland ceremony Denmark, Canada, Norway, Russia and the USA – and five large fisheries nations/partners – the EU, Iceland, Japan, China and the Republic of Korea –signed an agreement to prevent unregulated fisheries in the Central Arctic Ocean.

The Canada Border Services Agency seized more than 20 kilograms of marijuana that was set to be shipped to either Denmark or Italy.

Social Affairs:

Politiken reported how an Iranian exile, a leading member of the Liberation of Ahwaz (ASMLA) movement, has been under Danish police protection for months. The Danish People’s Party (DPP) said any Iranians in Denmark suspected of terrorism should only be extradited if Iran agrees to accept their failed asylum seekers.

Copenhagen Police are facing a million-kroner invoice for their role in the Tibet affair – 55 people who were denied their civil right to demonstrate during a 2012 official state visit by China’s president at the time, Hu Jintao, have each been awarded compensation claims of around DKK20,000 each.

A Conservative proposal to increase the duty on cigarettes so they cost at least DKK60 per packet was given a mixed reception from parties on both sides of the aisle.

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Business:

Business Minister Rasmus Jarlov said Danske Bank may be facing a record DKK4bn ($630 million) fine for the money laundering scandal in Denmark alone – U.S. multinational investment bank Morgan Stanley estimated that Danske could absorb potential penalties as high as $3 billion and still meet its capital requirements. The bank announced it’s being investigated by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) about the €200bn money laundering scandal. Danske Bank whistleblower Howard Wilkinson has been invited to appear before the European Parliament’s special committee on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance (Tax3).

Nordea, the Nordic region’s largest bank, was implicated in a major fraud case involving a Copenhagen branch, a Russian national, and a tax-shelter company.

Germany’s Wintershall Holding, one of five major companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project, said it’s ready to provide additional financing for an alternative route in case Denmark refuses to issue a permit.

Facebook announced plans to build a new ‘mega’ 250,000 square-metre data centre close to Esbjerg in west Denmark, its second in Denmark.

The city of New York will work with offshore wind experts from Denmark as it pushes ahead with its multi-billion-dollar plan to add renewable sources of power to the state’s energy grid.

Pharma giant Novo Nordisk announced plans to cut around 250 jobs in the U.S. – wind energy company Vestas is preparing to lay off around 400 employees in northern and central Europe.

And That Was The Week That Was,October 1st–6th, 2018: To read all the above articles in full see: http://seven59.dk/archive (subscription required).