Morning Briefing – Thursday, June 13

The Copenhagen Post’s daily digest of what the Danish press is reporting

Expensive prisons

Danish prisons are twice as expensive to run as prisons in Germany, according to a study compiled by the government. Danish prisons have 75 percent more staff than their German counterparts and there is less competition. As a result, the government is looking into privatising large parts of the correctional system. – Politiken

Fraud crippling Afghan police project

The Danish-supported LOFTA police program in Afghanistan has for years been plagued by rampant fraud without donor countries finding out. A recent internal investigation revealed that the fraud has been going on since at least 2005 and has cost between four and nine million kroner. Development-aid experts argued that the situation was an example of how little Denmark controls their aid. – Information

Thousands of children live in poverty

Around 12,000 children are living under the new poverty line established by the government this week. According the figures from the left-leaning think tank AE, the number of poor children trebled between 2001 and 2011. The social affairs minister, Karen Hækkerup (Socialdemokraterne), wants an annual report on the numbers of poor. – Berlingske

Government to check own reforms

The finance minister, Margrethe Vestager (Radikale), and Henrik Sass Larsen (Socialdemokraterne) one of six of parliament’s auditors, have teamed up to make sure the government’s steady stream of reforms have the intended effect. Vestager has proposed that the state auditors function as a kind of watchdog and monitor whether the government’s reforms actually work as desired. – Jyllands-Posten

Still waiting for trains

Only 19 of the 73 IC4 trains delivered to DSB from the Italian producer AnsaldoBreda, are in service. The rest are being repaired or renovated, waiting to be re-built, being inspected or having their computers upgraded. An additional 10 IC4 trains are due to be delivered. All 83 were due to be in service by 2006. – Ingeniøren

Eminence Corydon

Berlingske Business Magazine has named the finance minister, Bjarne Corydon (Socialdemokraterne), as the most powerful man in the country. Following Corydon in the annual ranking were the economy minister, Margrethe Vestager (Radikale), and the prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt (Socialdemokraterne). The only other politician on the list, opposition leader Lars Løkke Rasmussen (Venstre), came in sixth. – Berlingske

Swansea cut ties to Laudrup agent

Swansea has stoked rumours of a growing conflict between the Welsh club and manager Michael Laudrup conflict after expressing concern about the influence of his agent, Bayram Tutumlu. According to Swansea, Tutumlu has made efforts to control the club’s transfer policies. Tutumlu has been Laudrup’s agent since he played for Barcelona in the 1990s. – Tipsbladet

TOP STORIES

  • In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    In conversation with Conrad Molden: The man behind the mic

    He’s tickled our funny bone with countless wisecracks and clever wordplay, and in the process, made Denmark feel a little more personable to many expats. An international import himself, funny man Conrad Molden has successfully carved out a niche for himself on the Danish stand-up scene, but it’s taken a solid 13 years, much trial and error, and heaps of Danglish

  • Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rimes with integrating

    Volunteer Night 2025: when volunteering rimes with integrating

    On Wednesday, April 30, from 17:00 to 20:00, Studenterhuset will host Volunteer Night 2025, a free event organized by the organization International House Copenhagen, which goal is to ease the relocation process for newcomers in Denmark

  • The international who shaped Copenhagen

    The international who shaped Copenhagen

    Anna Maria Indrio is one of the most important architects in Denmark, having contributed to shaping Copenhagen into what it is today. Among her best-known projects are the extension of SMK and Arken, as well as the Natural History Museum and the Darwin Centre in London. She moved here 60 years ago, when “Copenhagen was gray and dormant. Predictions suggested it would become depopulated. But putting people at the center changed everything,” she said

  • Danish government passes amendment to increase citizenship fee by 50%

    Danish government passes amendment to increase citizenship fee by 50%

    Fees were raised to reflect processing costs and curb repeat applications, creating debate over whether the new charges erect barriers to political participation for internationals.

  • Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    Internationals’ labour contributes 361 billion DKK to Denmark’s GDP, and it is growing strongly every year

    According to a report by the Danish Chamber of Commerce, internationals’ contribution is 12% of the country’s GDP. In 2023, it was 322 billion DKK, and in 2008, it was 136 billion DKK. “Internationals make a gigantic difference in our prosperity and welfare,” comments Morten Langager, the Director of Dansk Erhverv.

  • Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    Inside Denmark’s innovation engine

    With half of its staff being international, the BioInnovation Institute reflects Denmark’s broader transformation into a global innovation hub. But can the country—and Europe—keep up the pace? “If reforms are made now, we can close the gap in ten years,” explains BII’s CEO

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs