No support for EU call to act after Lampedusa tragedy
Danish lawmakers say last week’s death of over 300 African refugees off the Italian island of Lampedusa will have no effect on immigration policy here. Representatives from Socialdemokraterne, the coalition leader, Venstre, parliament’s largest party, the anti-immigration Dansk Folkeparti and libertarian Liberal Alliance all stated their opposition to calls by Cecilia Malmström, the EU interior affairs commissioner, that member states increase the number of refugees they accepted each year. Attitudes ranged from fear that the country would be overrun to a proposal that more be done to improve conditions in Africa in order to reduce illegal immigration. – DR Nyheder

SEE RELATED: Rules eased for Syrian asylum seekers

Tax assesement changes criticised
Even as plans for a new property tax assessment method were being unveiled yesterday, homeowners said they doubted whether the changes, due to take effect in 2016, would guarantee they are being assessed the correct amount. The Tax Ministry appointed a group yesterday to come up with new guidelines. The group is headed by Peter Engberg, the former head of mortgage lender Nykredit, and made up of others with a knowledge of the property market. Experts, however, pointed out that the Tax Ministry had indicated that new system must follow the same basic principles as the current system, which saw mistakes in 75 percent of evaluations, and said that would make it impossible to make significant improvements. – Politiken

SEE RELATED: Inaccurate property evaluations may have cost homeowners millions

Selective school labour union policies
Trade schools are being accused of discriminatory practices by only permitting certain labour unions to speak to students about the benefits of organised labour. Many schools say they allow only traditional unions, which have the right to negotiate collective bargaining agreements, to address students. The unions are only permitted to speak about collective bargaining and may not recruit new members. The schools argue that because independent unions, which do not belong to a labour confederation and typically charge members lower dues, cannot negotiate collective bargaining agreements, there would be no point in allowing them to address students. Labour officials applauded the move, comparing the unions, which are typically for-profit companies, with telephone companies offering a product to students. – Berlingske Business

SEE RELATED: Union's blockade of restaurant was legal, but some of its actions were not

‘Ghetto’ poet threatened
An 18-year-old author of a book of poetry about life growing up in a council estate has drawn the ire of some in the immigrant community. In his book, Yahya Hassan criticises Muslim parents for failing to raise their children properly and characterises young Muslims as criminals. After TV appearances this week promoting the book, Hassan said he received threats of physical violence, including a number of death threats. Hassan said that after making the TV appearance he has not slept at home. – Kristeligt Dagblad

SEE RELATED: Government changes what it means to come from the ghetto

Editorial Excerpt | A deeper shade of green
It is nothing less than a tragedy for businesses and consumers that parliament is nearly unanimous in its support for the current energy policy. The centre-left, which otherwise claims to speak for businesses, is competing with the government to turn the deepest shade of green. […] Martin Lidegaard, the climate minister, has already admitted that energy taxes have less to do with energy than they do with generating revenue to fund the world’s largest public sector. The less energy Danes use the higher their energy tax rates are likely to rise. – Jyllands-Posten   

SEE RELATED: Climate plan presented to help reach ambitious emissions targets

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