Government reveals plans as parliament opens new year

EU opt-out vote, border control and extremism among the highlights

As is tradition in Denmark on the first Tuesday of October, the prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt ushered in the new parliamentary session with a speech revealing the government's plans for the coming year.

Among the highlights of the 164th parliamentary session opening were Denmark's fight against IS in the Middle East, the rising number of asylum-seekers, tighter border control and the EU opt-outs.

Thorning-Schmidt began by praising the Danish and international efforts in Iraq and Syria against the jihadist organisation IS – both from a military and a humanitarian perspective.

"We live in an uneasy time and we really have two options," Thorning-Schmidt said. "Either we help solve the crises in the world, or we hide and hope that we won't be affected. I have no doubts. We must act."

READ MORE: The largest influx of asylum-seekers in 20 years

Asylum flood backlash
Security at home and in Europe was also on the agenda and the prime minister mentioned the government's support of sanctions against Russia, underlining the importance of stationing Danish troops in the Baltics.

The prime minister went on to reveal that the government would toughen up legislation involving family reunification thanks to the record number of asylum-seekers making their way to Denmark this year.

The border control will be enhanced in a bid to crack down on rising number of human trafficking cases and illegal immigrants that are moving across Danish borders.

READ MORE: Government to crack down on extremism and radicalisation

Muslims to take responsibility
Thorning-Schmidt vowed that the government would crack down hard on Danes travelling to Syria and Iraq to fight on behalf of IS.

"We will take their passports and their residence permits. We will do everything to make sure that the Syria fighters account for their crimes and do what we can to prevent radicalisation," Thorning-Schmidt said.

To this end, Thorning-Schmidt appealed to the Muslim community in Denmark to help  radicalised people in their communities onto the right path. "All Danes must stand together against extremism," she said.

Other areas that the government intends to focus on is improving the health sector, spending billions extra on increased welfare, improved terms for volunteer work, better protection of the nation's natural habitat and better education.

TOP STORIES

  • Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    After more than a decade living in Denmark, Russell shares why she made the move, how she’s coping, what she already misses, and the exciting new projects she’s working on. “It’s been a very tough decision. I love Denmark, and it will always hold a special place in my heart,” she says.

  • Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    The new Gefion AI supercomputer is one of the world’s fastest and will accelerate research and provide new opportunities in Danish academia and industry.

  • Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Experts believe it takes seven years to move into a new culture, according to leading Danish psychologist Jette Simon and therapist Vibeke Hartkorn. For expat couples, the challenges of starting a new life together in Denmark can put pressure on relationships, but emotions-focused therapy can help.

  • More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    Politicians debate a lot these days about when you can retire. The reality shows that an increasing number of Danes like to work, even if they can withdraw from the labor market. Financial incentives help.

  • Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Canadian-born environmental activist Paul Watson has been in prison in Greenland for almost 100 days awaiting an extradition decision for a 14-year-old offence against a Japanese whaling vessel that he calls a “minor misdemeanor”. The 73-year-old had previously passed through Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco, France and the USA without trouble, before Greenlandic police arrested him in July.

  • Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    When the Danish government in January presented the first of its schemes to make it easier to recruit foreign labour from outside the EU, it was hailed by the healthcare and service sectors as a timely and important policy shift. But while healthcare changes have been forthcoming, the service sector is still struggling, say the directors of the industry association Dansk Industri and one of the country’s largest private employers ISS.

Connect club

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

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

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

    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 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.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs