Capital region up in arms over municipal countervailing scheme

Dozens of municipalities complain that too much money is going to Jutland

Should you have picked up Berlingske or Politiken newspapers this morning, you might have come across an interesting full-page ad.

The ad was paid for by 34 municipalities from the Capital Region that feel the so-called ‘udligningsordningen’ (‘countervailing scheme’) – which aims to reduce the economic differences between Danish municipalities – has gone too far.

“Over the past many years, Parliament has moved more and more money from the capital area to Jutland. The amount has doubled since 2007 and has reached 13.3 billion kroner in 2018 … Stop this differential treatment now,” the ad read.

READ MORE: DR willing to replace media licence with a tax

Simpler by 2019
The ad also referred to a press release released by Frederikshavn on January 19 in a bid to attract state workers to the Jutland municipality. It highlighted that families would have more money at their disposal after the usual expenses were paid compared to Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality in the Capital Region.

The municipalities in the Capital Region don’t want to scrap udligningsordningen, they just want to make it fairer.

“We’ve had enough. From 2017 to 2018 alone, udligningsordningen increased by 1.5 billion kroner and we are in a situation in which the municipalities in Jutland want even more. We simply don’t think that this is reasonable,” Steen Christiansen, the mayor of Albertslund, told DR Nyheder.

The economy and internal affairs minister, Simon Emil Ammitzbøll-Bille, is currently looking into the contentious scheme and he has indicated that he intends to make it more simple. An agreement could be ready by the start of next year.

The 34 municipalities behind the appeal to Parliament are Albertslund, Allerød, Ballerup, Brøndby, Dragør, Egedal, Fredensborg, Frederiksberg, Frederikssund, Furesø, Gentofte, Gladsaxe, Glostrup, Greve, Gribskov, Halsnæs, Helsingør, Herlev, Hillerød, Hvidovre, Høje-Taastrup, Hørsholm, Ishøj, København, Køge, Lejre, Lyngby-Taarbæk, Roskilde, Rudersdal, Rødovre, Solrød, Stevns, Tårnby and Vallensbæk.

See the ad below in Politiken

(photo: Christian Wenande)

TOP STORIES

  • Nørrebro: A battle between identities

    Nørrebro: A battle between identities

    Nørrebro is a cornerstone of the city of Copenhagen. However, while it continues to be a popular hang out spot for young and old alike, the neighborhood is in the middle of a transformation from the old working class population, to a younger and more economically stable clientele. This fact raises concern among native Nørrebro-citizens.

  • Copenhagen celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a grand 20th anniversary parade

    Copenhagen celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a grand 20th anniversary parade

    The Irish Culture Association Denmark (ICAD) is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Copenhagen on March 16, 2025, with a parade marking its 20th anniversary. Supported by the Irish Embassy, the event will feature Irish music, dance, sports, and cultural displays, bringing the spirit of Ireland to Denmark.

  • Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

    Trump: Greenlandic annexation “will happen.” Greenlandic PM: “Enough is enough”

    Yesterday, the President of the United States made some of the strongest statements about Greenland he has ever made during the press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

  • Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

    Copenhagen revisited through memoir poetry

    Not all students feel like reading Danish poetry after a meeting at a language school with writer and poet Henrik Palle. Yet, a portrayal of Copenhagen as the city once was and the impressions of what the city is today give a deeper impression of the Danes

  • A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

    A book to make Danish idioms easier to understand

    It’s difficult to learn Danish, especially with idioms that have figurative meanings. It highlights Christiane Bjørg Nielsen’s book, See What You Say, which serves as a visual guide to understanding these idiomatic expressions in Danish.

  • Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Raise the voice of internationals. Take the survey and share your experience in Denmark.

    Copenhagen Capacity has launched a survey for all internationals living in Denmark to find out if they are happy here and what challenges they face. The Copenhagen Post is the media partner for this initiative. You can find the survey below in the article.

Connect club

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

Sign up here

Career

  • Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen ranked 4th for career growth

    Copenhagen is ranked as the fourth-best city in the world for career growth, according to an analysis by EnjoyTravel. This ranking considers various factors such as living costs, salary levels, workforce availability, and overall quality of life. Copenhagen is noted for its blend of historical and modern elements, particularly in the green energy sector, which influences job opportunities.

  • Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    Data shows that non-Western immigrants have saved local economies in Denmark

    A study reveals how only the massive influx of non-Western immigrants has saved many areas in Denmark from a decline in the workforce and a consequently shrinking economy

  • Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    Long-term unemployment is double for non-Western immigrants

    An analysis from the Labour Movement’s Business Council shows that the rate in long-term unemployment for non-Western immigrants is 1.8 times higher than for Danes. In other words, a chronic unemployment situation is way more probable for non-Western internationals.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs