EU patent court referendum to proceed

The government declined to grant Dansk Folkeparti concessions in exchange for support of the EU patent court

Oct 14, 2013

Eurosceptic party Dansk Folkeparti (DF) declared this morning that Denmark would be holding a referendum to decide its membership in the EU patent court.

DF is against joining the court but said it would support it if the government tackled so-called 'welfare tourism' or held a referendum on joining the EU banking union.

But the government ignored DF’s Sunday deadline to open negotiations.

PM ignores deadline
“We have not heard from Helle Thorning-Schmidt,” MP Pia Adelsteen told Berlingske Nyhedsbureau. “That means we are having a referendum.”

The EU patent court would result in Denmark losing sovereignty to the EU and therefore would need a five sixths ‘super majority’ in parliament to avoid a referendum.

But with both DF and the far-left Enhedslisten against joining the court, the government can’t secure the necessary super majority.

Referendum in May
Last week, Thorning-Schmidt announced that if the referendum goes ahead, it will be held next May simultaneously with the European parliamentary elections.

Adelsteen told Berlingske Nyhedsbureau that DF that wanted to open the negotiations because the party prioritised finding ways to minimise welfare spending on non-Danes over joining the patent court.

But Thorning-Schmidt told DR Nyheder that setting final demands in exchange for negotiations was not politically productive.

TOP STORIES

Condoms are “boring” and “difficult”, so Danish youth choose to have sex without them

A new study by the World Health Organization WHO shows an “alarming decline” in the use of condoms by European teenagers. This also applies in Denmark.
Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.
New Lolland rewilding project is “win all round” says farmland owner

A protected nature area will be established in South Lolland, equivalent to around 60 football pitches, near the vast new Femern Belt Link tunnel project. The park will be a rewilding project on agricultural land – a form of land transition that the Danish government has recently begun incentivising as part of its progressive new green tax agreement.
How to easily get your child into a snowsuit – without blood, sweat and tears

As we find ourselves in early September, it may still be hard to imagine colder days ahead. But in the Nordics, winter is never too far away. So let’s take a step ahead and talk about a Danish winter essential for your little one – the snowsuit.
Intro week is not easy for introverts

Pub-crawls, clubbing and icebreakers planned by extroverted senior students for new first-year students can be fun for extroverts, but too much for introverts who feel pressured to participate.
Indian summer hits Denmark for a while

Although the light already disappears after 8 PM, summer rests upon Denmark. This applies especially in the capital area, where the next few days offer sunshine and 25 degrees

Connect club

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

13 Sep: Social Beer Walk – A guided tour of Copenhagen harbour

Career

Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.
Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.
This rooftop ‘Scandarabian’ restaurant is helping international jobseekers to upskill for the Danish market

The social enterprise and rooftop restaurant Do More focuses especially on helping long-term unemployed citizens who struggle to enter the Danish labor market due to a lack of experience from their home country, language barriers, and other factors.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Jobs

EU patent court referendum to proceed

Condoms are “boring” and “difficult”, so Danish youth choose to have sex without them

Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

New Lolland rewilding project is “win all round” says farmland owner

How to easily get your child into a snowsuit – without blood, sweat and tears

Intro week is not easy for introverts

Indian summer hits Denmark for a while

13 Sep: Social Beer Walk – A guided tour of Copenhagen harbour

Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

This rooftop ‘Scandarabian’ restaurant is helping international jobseekers to upskill for the Danish market

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

QA EXT. MANUFACTURING SENIOR SPECIALIST & COORDINATOR

Freelance Designer for Short-Term Contract – Immediate start – Remote or in CPH

Account Manager – Polish market (Polish speaker)