News round up

Number of homes for sale falls across Denmark

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The number of houses and owner-occupied apartments for sale in Denmark has declined, according to statistics from Finans Danmark.

At the beginning of November 2025, 34,641 homes were listed for sale, a drop of 14 percent compared with the same time last year. The reduction in housing supply is seen across all regions of the country.

The number of owner-occupied apartments listed has fallen particularly in and around the two largest cities. In Copenhagen Municipality, Frederiksberg Municipality, and Aarhus Municipality, the number of listed apartments has fallen by between 36 and 51 percent compared with October 2024.

At the start of November, an average house of 140 square meters was listed for just over 3.1 million DKK nationwide. An average owner-occupied apartment of 85 square meters cost just under 4.0 million DKK. These represent increases of nearly 9 percent for houses and 13 percent for apartments.

Peter Jayaswal, Deputy Director for Mortgage, Property Finance and Societal Transition at Finans Danmark, said: “It has not become easier to be a homebuyer since last year. The selection of homes is significantly smaller, and listing prices have increased – whether you are looking for a house or an owner-occupied apartment. In other words, it is a seller’s market at the moment.”

He added: “Right now we are seeing the effect of a very low housing supply combined with continued demand, which drives prices up. At the same time, Danish households are generally doing well, and the economy shows positive signs – this contributes to continued high interest in buying homes.”

  • Denmark introduces new GP payment system to improve care for patients with greater needs

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    Patients in Denmark will be able to book different types of appointments with their general practitioners under a new four-year agreement aimed at improving access to medical care.

    The agreement, announced Thursday, was negotiated between Praktiserende Lægers Organisation (PLO), the Danish organization representing general practitioners, and Regionernes Lønnings- og Takstnævn (RLTN), the regional body responsible for negotiating doctors’ pay and fees.

    One of the main changes is a new payment system that takes patients’ medical needs into account.

    Currently, clinics receive the same payment per patient regardless of whether patients are generally healthy or require extensive treatment.

    Under the agreement, clinics treating patients with greater medical needs will receive higher payments.

    The change is intended to improve financial conditions for practices in areas with fewer doctors, where patients with the greatest treatment needs are often found.

    The agreement also introduces four appointment categories: short, regular, long and complex consultations.

    These will allow doctors to address several medical concerns during a single appointment when necessary.

    General practitioners will also receive separate payments for continuing education, helping them expand their skills and potentially reduce referrals to other medical services.

    “It is a milestone that we now have an agreement on terms and frameworks for general practice that extends four years into the future,” PLO chairman Jørgen Skadborg said.

    He added that the agreement would provide stability, allowing doctors to focus on patients and developing their clinics.

    The agreement takes effect at the start of the new year, with 4.5 billion DKK allocated to general practice over four years.

    By 2030, annual funding is expected to be 1.7 billion DKK higher than today.

  • Robbie Williams and Slash join Tinderbox 2027 lineup

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    British pop star Robbie Williams will return to Denmark’s Tinderbox festival next summer, alongside guitarist Slash, who will make his debut at the Odense event.

    The festival announced the bookings in a press release, adding five acts to its 2027 lineup.

    Williams previously headlined Tinderbox’s inaugural edition in 2015 and has remained one of the festival’s most requested performers, according to organizers.

    The former Take That member is known for solo hits including “Angels,” “Feel” and “Let Me Entertain You.”

    Slash, best known as the guitarist for Guns N’ Roses, will perform with singer Myles Kennedy and the band The Conspirators rather than his longtime bandmates.

    The group performs under the name Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators.

    “With Slash’s legendary guitar playing and Kennedy’s powerful vocals, the stage is set for a genuine rock party when they take Tusindårsskoven,” organizers said.

    The latest announcement also includes Swedish singer Lisa Ekdahl and DJ Sebastian Ingrosso.

    Danish DJ and producer Rune Rask, a member of the rap trio Suspekt, will perform under his own name.

    According to organizers, Rask has also been among the most frequently requested artists for the festival.

    The five newly announced acts join a lineup that already includes British pop group Take That, of which Williams was previously a member before pursuing his solo career.

    Tinderbox 2027 will take place from June 24 to 26 in Tusindårsskoven, a woodland area in Odense on the Danish island of Funen.

  • Denmark, Greenland and Faroe Islands to jointly lead Nordic Council in 2027

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    Lars-Christian Brask, a member of Denmark’s parliament for Liberal Alliance, has been elected president of the Nordic Council, which brings together parliamentarians from the Nordic countries.

    Brask was elected Thursday during the council’s session in Helsinki, Finland, according to a statement from Folketinget, Denmark’s parliament.

    Denmark will take over the rotating presidency from Finland in 2027, sharing leadership responsibilities with Greenland and the Faroe Islands for the first time.

    Brask has chaired Denmark’s delegation to the Nordic Council since 2023. He said the presidency involves leading parliamentary cooperation between the Nordic countries.

    “Just like in the Folketing, we can make proposals that are voted through and then go to the Council of Ministers, which then has to implement them,” Brask told Ritzau, Denmark’s news agency.

    Greenland and the Faroe Islands will share the vice presidency. Justus Hansen of Greenland’s Demokraatit party will serve during the first six months, followed by Sunnvá Dahl Høgfeldt of the Faroese Sambandsflokkurin party.

    According to Folketinget, the presidency will prioritize removing barriers between Nordic countries to improve regional cooperation and competitiveness.

    Children, young people, civil society, culture and understanding of Nordic languages will also feature in its agenda.

    Brask said Denmark intends to focus on practical outcomes rather than formalities.

    “There will be fewer ceremonial speeches and more focus on delivering concrete results,” he said.

    The Nordic Council has 87 parliamentarians, with its presidency rotating annually among five Nordic countries.

    Denmark last held the presidency in 2021, when Bertel Haarder of Venstre, Denmark’s Liberal Party, served as president.

  • Arctic sea ice survives summer with less melting than expected despite record-low winter

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    Arctic sea ice has retained more of its coverage than expected this summer, thanks to unusually cool weather conditions, according to the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI).

    In a statement Thursday, DMI reported that Arctic sea ice reached a record-low winter extent earlier this year but experienced relatively limited melting during the summer months.

    A large low-pressure system over the Arctic helped keep temperatures cooler, slowing the melting process and allowing more ice to survive.

    Gorm Dybkjær, a climate researcher at DMI, said the development was surprising but cautioned against interpreting it as a reversal of climate change.

    “It is remarkable that the sea ice in the Arctic has retained so much of its winter ice after the winter’s record-low extent. But that does not mean that climate change has released its grip on the ice,” he said.

    In September, when Arctic sea ice reached its annual minimum, its extent ranked as the 16th-lowest since records began in 1978.

    Despite this year’s relatively favorable conditions, scientists continue to observe a long-term decline in the thickness and volume of Arctic sea ice.

    Since 2007, the Arctic’s total sea ice volume has fallen by an estimated 20 percent or more.

    Dybkjær warned that thinner ice is increasingly vulnerable to changing weather and ocean conditions, which could trigger sudden, substantial losses.

    Researchers also monitor sea ice because of its role in regulating Earth’s temperature through the albedo effect.

    This refers to how much incoming sunlight is reflected into space.

    Ice and clouds reflect substantial amounts of solar radiation, while darker ocean surfaces absorb more energy, contributing to warming.

  • Police announce stop-and-search zone for Copenhagen derby

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    Copenhagen Police will introduce a stop-and-search zone around Parken on Sunday, 8 November, when FC Copenhagen face Brøndby IF in a match classified as high risk.

    The zone will be in force from 06:00 to 20:00 across parts of Østerbro, including Trianglen, Blegdamsvej, Jagtvej, Østerbrogade, Svanemøllen Station and Strandboulevarden.

    Within the zone, police can stop and search people without suspecting them of a criminal offence. The measure is intended to prevent unrest surrounding the derby.

    Police Inspector Peter Dahl said officers hoped for a festive and peaceful day, but would be deployed in large numbers given the fixture’s history.

    “We will also be present in large numbers so that we can intervene if there should be signs of unrest brewing,” he said.

    Police have also instructed FC Copenhagen to keep Brøndby supporters inside Parken for up to an hour after the final whistle. The aim is to separate the two groups of fans and prevent confrontations after the match.

    Copenhagen Police warned that penalties for certain offences committed in connection with a football match can be increased by up to 50 percent. These include offences involving drugs, weapons and fireworks.

  • PET warns Ukrainians in Denmark of Russian sabotage recruitment

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    Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service (PET) is distributing information in Ukrainian to warn Ukrainians living in Denmark that Russian intelligence services may try to recruit them for sabotage.

    PET has previously warned the wider Danish public. Emil Græsholm, its head of counterintelligence, said the warning must also be accessible in Ukrainian because Ukrainians in Denmark could be targeted.

    According to PET, Russia may seek to discredit Ukrainian refugees by making them appear involved in Russian sabotage operations.

    Russian intelligence services can hide behind intermediaries, offering paid assignments disguised as journalism, market research or routine documentation. Those carrying out the work may have no idea who is ultimately directing it.

    “You can end up helping a Russian intelligence service without knowing who you are actually working for,” Græsholm said.

    Recruitment takes place through social media and messaging platforms. PET urges people to be cautious if strangers offer payment for taking photographs or observing locations, particularly if they insist the assignment must remain secret.

    Anyone who becomes suspicious should contact the police, even if they have already completed the assignment, Græsholm said.

    The warning comes less than a week after two young Ukrainian men were released from custody in an espionage case. They remain charged with allegedly photographing the company MyDefence in Nørresundby and sending the images to a Telegram user, thereby assisting Russian intelligence operations in Denmark.

    The court in Aalborg found that the suspicion against them was insufficient to justify keeping them in custody.

    PET is working with the Ukrainian embassy and Danish immigration authorities to distribute the warning.

  • Danish and Norwegian prime ministers discuss rift over joint Norway–Finland call to Putin

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    Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says he had a “good conversation” with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Wednesday after she criticised his joint phone call with Finnish President Alexander Stubb to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

    “Mette Frederiksen is a close partner for me politically and personally,” Støre told Dagens Næringsliv, according to Norwegian news agency NTB.

    “We had a good conversation on the phone yesterday and agreed that we view that conversation differently,” he said, referring to Tuesday’s 90-minute call with Putin.

    Frederiksen had questioned the initiative, saying it had not been coordinated with other European partners.

    “I am very sceptical of this Norwegian and Finnish initiative. It is not coordinated with the rest of us,” she told TV 2 during a Nordic Council meeting in Finland.

    “I think we should keep Europe together rather than go it alone.”

    The Danish prime minister said she did not know what Norway and Finland believed the call could achieve. She argued that European countries had previously stressed the importance of a united approach when individual leaders pursued contacts with Russia.

    Responding to the criticism on Tuesday, Støre said all allies had been informed before the call.

    Frederiksen declined to comment further when asked about the matter later that day at Amalienborg in Copenhagen.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, welcomed Norway and Finland’s involvement, writing on X that he was “grateful” for their “active support for our diplomacy and joint peace efforts”.

  • ECB holds rates, but economist sees hikes this year

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    The European Central Bank kept its key interest rate unchanged on Thursday, while warning that rising energy prices pose a growing risk to inflation.

    “Although the full consequences of the energy shock are still unfolding, underlying inflation has so far remained largely stable, and wages at present show no significant reaction,” the ECB said in a statement.

    The decision follows rate increases in June and September.

    Tore Stramer, chief economist at the Danish Chamber of Commerce, said uncertainty surrounding French public finances and a broader rise in market interest rates had given the ECB room to pause.

    However, he cautioned that further increases remained a possibility.

    “The ECB is certainly not in a situation where it can shelve the interest rate hammer for now,” he wrote in a comment.

    Stramer expects rising energy prices to prompt another rate increase at the ECB’s next meeting in December.

  • Danish intelligence service warns Ukrainians in Denmark of Russian sabotage recruitment

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    The Danish Security and Intelligence Service, known as PET, is warning Ukrainians in Denmark that Russian intelligence services may try to recruit them to carry out sabotage, potentially without their knowledge.

    PET said in a press release that it is issuing information material in Ukrainian. The service has previously warned the wider Danish public about the threat.

    Emil Græsholm, PET’s head of counterintelligence, said the warning also needs to be available in Ukrainian because Russian intelligence services may attempt to recruit Ukrainians living in Denmark.

    According to PET, Russia may seek to discredit Ukrainian refugees by making it appear that they are participating in Russian sabotage.

    Russian intelligence services can hide their identities and recruit through intermediaries, leaving those carrying out assignments unaware of who they are working for.

    Tasks may be presented as journalism, market research or general documentation, making them appear harmless, PET said.

  • Written Danish exam grades fall across Denmark’s upper secondary programs

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    Grades in written Danish have fallen across Denmark’s upper secondary education programs, according to the latest exam results released by the Education Ministry on Thursday.

    At general upper secondary schools, known as stx, the average grade in A-level Danish, the highest subject level, fell from 6.8 in 2018 to 6.2 in 2026.

    Across upper secondary programs, grades declined both compared with last year and over the longer term.

    Education Minister Magnus Heunicke of the Social Democrats said the figures worried him and raised concerns about students’ use of artificial intelligence.

    “Artificial intelligence has in a very short time changed the students’ everyday lives,” he said in a press release.

    “And we cannot ignore what it can mean for their academic proficiency. Because if AI becomes a shortcut around the work of writing, analyzing, and expressing oneself, then we risk that the students learn less,” he said.

    The figures follow a PISA international student assessment published in early September that showed declining performance in reading, mathematics and science among 15-year-olds, renewing debate about academic standards in Danish schools.

  • Christine Lagarde to step down as ECB president

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    Christine Lagarde will step down as president of the European Central Bank in February 2027, eight months before her term was due to end, the bank said in a press release.

    Her term was scheduled to expire in October 2027, when she would have completed eight years in the post.

    The European Council, which brings together EU leaders, will appoint her successor.

    European Council President António Costa said in a post on X that the search for the next ECB president was beginning that day.

  • Rigshospitalet declined 10 donor livers over the past year because of capacity shortages

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    Rigshospitalet, a major hospital in Copenhagen, declined three donor livers for children and seven for adults over the past year because it lacked capacity, according to health news outlet Sundhedsmonitor.

    The outlet reported the figures from a response by the Capital Region of Denmark to regional council member Christoffer Buster Reinhardt of the Conservative People’s Party.

    The organs were offered through Scandiatransplant, which coordinates organ distribution between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Estonia. Rigshospitalet can receive offers from other hospitals when they do not need the organs themselves.

    The hospital told Sundhedsmonitor it was “not unusual” to decline livers for children.

    “Rigshospitalet has at no point been staffed to be able to perform liver transplants on children 24/7/365,” the hospital said.

    Sundhedsmonitor contacted the five other hospitals in the collaboration that perform liver transplants. Three major university hospitals in Sweden and Norway said they had never declined a liver because of capacity constraints.

    Rigshospitalet performed between four and 12 liver transplants on children annually from 2021 through 2025. It has performed seven so far this year. The hospital told Ritzau that its number of pediatric liver transplants was at least on par with those in the other Nordic countries.

    External review follows doctors’ departures

    On Monday, regional politicians announced that external reviewers would examine Rigshospitalet’s transplant department, the only department in Denmark that performs liver transplants.

    The announcement followed a meeting between hospital management and the Capital Region’s executive committee. Regional council Chairman Lars Gaardhøj of the Social Democrats and Reinhardt spoke about the review after the meeting.

    Hospital managers were asked to explain whether patients could still receive proper treatment after several doctors had resigned or been removed from their positions.

    Two surgeons left the department earlier this year. Five senior physicians subsequently wrote to hospital management and the region to express concern about patient safety.

    Three of those five were later sent home and are now leaving the hospital entirely, Danish public broadcaster DR reported Monday.

  • Direct flights from Copenhagen to Ilulissat cleared as Greenland airport opens

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    Travelers heading to western Greenland will no longer need to change planes in Nuuk after aviation authorities approved the opening of Ilulissat’s expanded airport on Thursday.

    The Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority granted final safety approval overnight, following inspections and a test flight.

    “Following a long series of inspections and a test flight, we have approved that the airport meets the necessary level of safety required to operate a modern, international airport,” said deputy director Lars Korsholm.

    The approval comes with temporary restrictions during the airport’s initial operating period. These will gradually be eased as the airport gains experience.

    Korsholm said the restrictions were unlikely to affect scheduled flights, particularly outside the tourist season.

    The airport’s runway has been extended from 845 meters to 2,200 meters, allowing larger aircraft to land in Ilulissat, a town on Greenland’s western coast near Disko Bay.

    Previously, passengers traveling from Copenhagen had to connect through Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.

    The new direct route will take approximately four hours and 40 minutes.

    Initially, Air Greenland will generally operate one direct flight between Copenhagen and Ilulissat every Wednesday, with additional weekly departures during busy periods, including Christmas and New Year.

    Thursday’s opening will be marked by an inaugural flight from Copenhagen, scheduled to land in Ilulissat at 11:40 a.m. local time, corresponding to 2:40 p.m. Danish time.

    The expansion forms part of a multibillion-krone investment in Greenland’s airports, which also includes improvements in Nuuk and a new airport near Qaqortoq in southern Greenland.

    The projects aim to improve transport connections and support economic development, particularly through increased tourism.

  • Denmark among 36 countries confirmed for Eurovision 2027 as boycotts continue

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    Canada will make its Eurovision debut next year, while several European countries remain absent amid disagreements over Israel’s participation in the international song contest.

    The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision, announced that 36 countries, including Denmark and Israel, are registered for the 2027 competition.

    Ireland and the Netherlands have withdrawn for the second consecutive year, citing Israel’s participation and concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and restrictions on press freedom.

    Spain, Iceland and Slovenia also boycotted this year’s contest over Israel’s involvement.

    Iceland will remain absent in 2027, while Spain and Slovenia have until December to decide whether to participate.

    “As the EBU acknowledges that the matter is complex, it has agreed to give both broadcasters a deadline until December,” Eurovision’s official website stated.

    The Czech Republic has also withdrawn, with national broadcaster Česká televize citing budget adjustments.

    North Macedonia, meanwhile, will return for the first time since 2022.

    Next year’s competition will take place in Burgas, Bulgaria, following Dara’s victory in Vienna with the song “Bangaranga.”

    Denmark finished seventh this year with Søren Torpegaard Lund’s “Før vi går hjem,” its best result in 13 years.

    The 2027 contest will feature semifinals on May 11 and 13, followed by the grand final on May 15, when 25 countries will compete.

    Bulgaria, as the defending winner, qualifies automatically alongside the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy, which make the largest financial contributions to the competition.

    Viewers and professional juries will determine the results of both semifinals and the final.

  • Five Danish municipalities agree to take additional Ukrainian refugees

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    Five municipalities in Jutland have volunteered to accommodate more Ukrainian refugees than their allocated share, offering some relief to municipalities facing pressure elsewhere in Denmark.

    Haderslev, Horsens, Skive, Struer and Viborg will receive a combined 133 additional refugees, according to the Ministry of Immigration and Integration.

    Viborg will take the largest share, with 65 additional arrivals, while Skive will accommodate 18.

    Immigration and Integration Minister Morten Bødskov, from the Social Democrats, welcomed the decision, noting that Copenhagen and municipalities in its western suburbs are particularly stretched.

    “It is a shared task to ensure that the Ukrainians who come to Denmark also gain a proper foothold in our local communities,” Bødskov said.

    The announcement comes as the government seeks to restrict residence permits for displaced Ukrainians arriving from 14 areas it considers less affected by the war.

    Parliament has already passed legislation excluding Ukrainian men aged 23 to 60 from obtaining residence under a special law, aiming to prevent them from avoiding military mobilization.

    Several Jutland municipalities previously offered to accept additional refugees, citing available accommodation and demand for workers.

    However, only Skive proceeded among the five municipalities that initially expressed interest.

    Brønderslev requested additional funding, which Bødskov rejected, saying municipalities willing to help must operate under existing financial arrangements.

    More than 47,000 Ukrainian refugees currently live in Denmark, compared with the 100,000 arrivals authorities prepared for in 2022.

    Despite the lower number, Bødskov said pressure on municipalities justified tighter admission rules.

    He acknowledged the difficulties involved while emphasizing Denmark’s continued military, civilian and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.

  • Most Danish companies want to help during crises but lack emergency contacts

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    Danish businesses are willing to provide equipment and other resources during emergencies, but many do not know how to offer their assistance, a new analysis shows.

    According to Dansk Industri, the Confederation of Danish Industry, 81 percent of companies want to support their local communities during crises. However, two-thirds do not know whom to contact.

    Morten Høyer, the organization’s political director, believes this leaves valuable resources unused.

    “The business community has a very large capacity, which can help people faster and perhaps even make the effort cheaper,” he said.

    “But it is not utilized well enough.”

    Høyer cited pumps for storm surges and emergency generators for power outages as examples of equipment businesses could provide.

    He urged municipalities to identify available resources and include local companies in emergency preparedness plans.

    Civil Security and Emergency Preparedness Minister Lisbeth Bech-Nielsen, from the Socialist People’s Party (SF), agreed that businesses need clear contact points.

    “We must build relationships, clear channels of contact, and a shared understanding of situations and threats before, during, and after crises,” she said in a written statement.

    The minister expects to announce further initiatives soon.

    Maja Broløs, director of Virksomhedsberedskabet, a business emergency preparedness organization, also stressed the importance of planning ahead.

    Her organization, which has more than 200 members, is developing a nationwide overview of companies willing to assist during major emergencies.

    “If you only start investigating who can help, and what resources they have, once the crisis has arisen, a quick and effective effort becomes really difficult,” she said.

    Broløs noted that businesses without conventional emergency equipment can also contribute, citing Copenhagen Zoo’s fenced areas, kitchens and operational facilities as examples.

  • Copenhagen Airport says tighter security checks and staffing shortfalls contributed to long queues

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    An order from the Danish Transport Authority led to additional baggage checks from October 8. Some passengers missed flights, and SAS reported rebooking 352 travelers.

    Copenhagen Airport introduced additional security checks following an order from the Danish Transport Authority and underestimated staffing needs on some days in October, the airport said Wednesday after long queues caused passengers to miss flights.

    The airport received the order on October 6 and introduced the measures two days later. The changes meant more passengers had their baggage checked manually, it said in a press release.

    The airport did not explain why the authority issued the order or give details of its requirements.

    There were periods of long waits on October 8, October 22 and October 23, the airport said. Passengers also faced waits of up to an hour early on Saturday, October 24.

    Danish media have reported lengthy queues, particularly over the past five days, with some passengers reaching their flights too late to depart as booked.

    The airport acknowledged that it had underestimated staffing needs on some days during October. It said “it is naturally not satisfactory” that some passengers had had “a bad experience”.

    SAS said on October 23 that it had rebooked 352 passengers because of the long waits. Passengers were also urged to arrive earlier than usual and allow extra time for security.

    Norwegian also offered affected customers rebooking.

  • Phoebe Bridgers joins Northside 2027 lineup

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    The American singer-songwriter will perform at next year’s Northside festival in Aarhus, joining a lineup that already includes The Strokes and Danish singer Mille.

    The festival confirmed the booking in a press release, announcing ten other acts alongside the 32-year-old musician.

    Northside will take place at Eskelunden in Aarhus from June 10 to June 12, 2027.

    Organizers praised Bridgers’ songwriting and her ability to combine emotional themes with humor.

    “Few songwriters manage to hit both the heart and dark humor as precisely as Phoebe Bridgers,” the festival said.

    “With fragile vocals, detailed lyrics, and her ability to unite melancholy with quirky humor, the American singer-songwriter has established herself as one of the most prominent voices of her generation,” organizers added.

    Bridgers made her solo debut in 2017 with the album Stranger in the Alps, followed by Punisher in 2020.

    Her third album, Lost Weekend, was released earlier this year. Her songs include “Scott Street,” “Motion Sickness” and “Lost Boys.”

    Danish fans will also have an opportunity to see Bridgers before next summer’s festival. She is scheduled to perform at Royal Arena in Copenhagen this December.

    Other newly announced Northside acts include Danish band Kind mod Kind, Canadian rock duo Angine de Poitrine, African group Tinariwen and American soul musician Jalen Ngonda, whose music draws inspiration from Motown.

    Northside said the latest bookings reflect its earlier promise to increase spending on its music program.

    The festival had previously confirmed American rock band The Strokes and Danish singer Mille for its 2027 edition.

  • Danish tax agency faces further scrutiny over identity theft cases

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    Denmark’s Parliamentary Ombudsman has demanded further explanations from the Danish Tax Agency over its handling of cases involving citizens who were wrongly pursued for millions in taxes after becoming victims of identity theft.

    Ombudsman Christian Britten Lundblad said the agency’s report, submitted on August 31, did not adequately address concerns raised about the cases.

    “After reviewing the report and the complaint that I previously received from a lawyer on behalf of a citizen in the complex of cases, I have found reason to ask the Danish Tax Agency for a statement,” Lundblad wrote.

    The investigation concerns 126 people involved in tax cases linked to money transfers through five businesses. The agency began examining the transfers in 2021.

    In June, TV 2’s investigative programme Operation X highlighted how citizens had faced incorrect tax claims worth millions following suspected identity theft connected to money laundering cases.

    The agency’s own report found that it should have acted in 2023, when police provided information suggesting widespread identity theft.

    In August, Danish Tax Agency Director Thomas Hjortenberg acknowledged the mistakes and apologised to those affected.

    “Our mistakes have had major personal consequences for the affected citizens,” he said.

    Hjortenberg also admitted that the agency should have responded much earlier to the police’s warnings.

    The ombudsman now wants to establish what information the agency possessed before issuing its tax assessments.

    He has also requested clarification on whether evidence in each case supported the information obtained from the money transfer businesses.

    The Danish Tax Agency has until November 7 to provide its response.

  • Ukrainian embassy disputes Danish lawmaker’s claim of unanswered meeting request

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    A disagreement has emerged between Ukraine’s embassy in Copenhagen and independent Danish lawmaker Jacob Harris over attempts to arrange a meeting ahead of his planned talks with Russia’s ambassador.

    In a written statement to Ritzau, Denmark’s news agency, the embassy said it had offered Harris two possible meeting dates but received no reply.

    “We were surprised to hear these claims from Member of Parliament Jacob Harris,” the embassy said.

    “After receiving an email from Jacob Harris requesting a meeting, we suggested two possible dates to him in the near future. However, we have not received any response.”

    Harris maintains that he never received the embassy’s reply but said he was “glad that contact has been made”.

    “Now I will write to them again with a view to arranging a meeting,” he said.

    The embassy also stated that Harris had visited twice without an appointment, hoping to meet the ambassador.

    On both occasions, the ambassador was attending previously scheduled events and was not at the embassy.

    Harris confirmed the visits, saying he had hoped to arrange a meeting.

    The disagreement follows Harris’ announcement Thursday that he plans to meet Russia’s ambassador in Copenhagen on November 10.

    In a Facebook post, Harris called for “more diplomacy, more dialogue, and less war rhetoric”.

    The planned meeting drew criticism from politicians across Denmark’s political spectrum.

    Harris also wrote that he had repeatedly contacted Ukraine’s ambassador without receiving a response.

    He now hopes to meet the Ukrainian ambassador before his scheduled meeting with Russia’s representative.

    The Ukrainian embassy expressed appreciation for Danish political support and thanked the Danish public for its continued solidarity with Ukraine.

  • Alm. Brand to lay off 55 employees as it reports record insurance result

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    Danish insurance group Alm. Brand has decided to lay off 55 employees and has eliminated 30 other positions as part of efforts to reduce costs, even as it reported its highest quarterly insurance result to date.

    The group’s insurance result reached 755 million DKK in the third quarter, according to financial statements released Wednesday. The measure reflects earnings from its core insurance business, taking account of premium income, claims and operating expenses.

    Chief Executive Officer Andreas Ruben Madsen said the job cuts were needed to improve efficiency and support the company’s previously announced strategy.

    “It is a difficult decision because it affects colleagues, but it is at the same time a necessary step to realize the efficiencies that support the strategic direction we have already announced,” he said in a stock exchange announcement.

    Lower claims costs were the main factor behind the record insurance result. Claims expenses fell by 165 million DKK from the same period last year to approximately 1.7 billion DKK. Insurance income rose slightly to more than 3 billion DKK.

    The group reported a third-quarter profit after tax of 397 million DKK.

    Madsen attributed the insurance result mainly to fewer major claims, fewer weather-related claims and positive run-off results. Run-off results arise when an insurer adjusts its estimates for claims from previous periods.

    He cautioned that those factors might not provide the same boost in future quarters.

    “This contributes significantly to earnings in the quarter, but at the same time these are conditions that we cannot expect will contribute at the same level going forward.”

  • Putin adviser says Frederiksen deserves to lose Greenland

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    Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian envoy involved in negotiations over the war in Ukraine and an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin on economic and international affairs, said Tuesday that Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen deserves to lose Greenland.

    Dmitriev made the comment in a post on the social media platform X, alongside a video in which Frederiksen criticized Finnish and Norwegian leaders for speaking by phone with Putin.

    “She (Mette Frederiksen, ed.) deserves to lose Greenland. The warmongers will lose. Dialogue will prevail,” Dmitriev wrote.

    The comments came after Finnish President Alexander Stubb announced Tuesday morning that he and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had spoken with Putin by phone.

    The call received a mixed response from the countries’ allies. Frederiksen was among those who criticized the decision to speak with the Russian president.

    “I am very skeptical of this Norwegian and Finnish own initiative. It is not coordinated with the rest of us,” Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster TV 2 during a meeting of the Nordic Council in Finland.

    “I think one should keep Europe together instead of going solo,” she added.

    Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also expressed doubts about the call.

    “Holding talks that risk dividing the European voice, that is risky,” he said Tuesday, according to Swedish media.

    Støre later rejected the criticism, saying the talks were conducted with other countries’ knowledge.

    “We do not speak on behalf of anyone other than ourselves, but it has been thoroughly consulted, and all our partners and allies were informed in advance and have also received a thorough summary afterwards,” he told Norwegian media outlet VG on Tuesday.

    Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took a more positive view of the talks. In a post on X, he said he was “grateful” for Norway and Finland’s active diplomatic work.

  • Study finds problematic social media use more common among girls

    ·

    More than one in five girls aged 15 to 21 in a Danish study show signs of problematic social media use, compared with fewer than one in 10 boys, according to research from the Rockwool Foundation, a Danish research foundation.

    The study surveyed 8,239 young people about their use of platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. Researchers also asked about their well-being and the amount of time they spend on social media.

    Based on their answers, participants were classified using an internationally recognized scale for problematic social media use.

    The results show that 22.2 percent of the girls surveyed fell into the category, compared with 9.6 percent of the boys.

    Nadja Eifler, a PhD student at the Rockwool Foundation, said part of the difference could be explained by the activities young people choose online.

    “In the study, we asked specifically about social media such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, so part of the difference between girls and boys may lie in the fact that many boys spend more time on computer games, which is also for many a social activity where you can be in dialogue with friends,” she said.

    The study also found a link between problematic social media use and poor well-being, particularly among girls.

    “We can clearly see that poor well-being is most widespread among young people with problematic social media use, especially for the girls, where more than half of these young women have low well-being,” Eifler said.

    Among girls who did not have problems with social media use, just under four in 10 reported low well-being.

    The report recommends looking beyond the number of hours young people spend on social media when assessing whether their use is problematic.

    Other warning signs include difficulty reducing use, feeling restless or uneasy when a phone is out of reach, and social media having a negative effect on school or education.

    The findings suggest that how young people use social media, and how it affects their daily lives, may be important factors alongside the time they spend online.

  • ATP’s investment return falls to 1.5 percent after weak quarter

    ·

    Danish pension provider ATP recorded a negative investment result in the third quarter, reducing its total return for the first nine months of the year to 1.5 percent.

    The company announced the figures in a press release on its website but did not disclose the size of the investment loss during the third quarter alone.

    ATP’s return stood at 14.5 percent when it published its half-year report a few months earlier. The latest figures show that much of the return earned during the first half of the year was lost in the following three months.

    ATP Chief Executive Officer Martin Præstegaard described the period as difficult, pointing to rising interest rates as a key factor behind the weaker result.

    “We have had a challenging third quarter, where rising interest rates have affected the result negatively,” he said.

    He added that the company had delivered a good investment return during the first half of the year, leaving the overall return positive for the first nine months.

    “The interest rate fluctuations do not change the fact that pensioners can count on receiving the pension they are guaranteed, and a robust bonus capacity allows us to increase pensions for all members,” Præstegaard said.

    ATP is Denmark’s statutory supplementary pension scheme. Employees who work at least nine hours a week and their employers pay contributions into the scheme. People receiving certain public benefits also contribute to ATP.

    Around 5.8 million people are members of the scheme.

    ATP provides a guaranteed, lifelong monthly pension payment that supplements the Danish state pension after people stop working.

    The company’s investment portfolio accounts for approximately 20 percent of its total assets.

    The latest figures cover the first nine months of the year, including the period from July through September, when rising interest rates weighed on investment performance. Despite the decline in the third quarter, ATP said its overall return for the year remained positive.

  • Viking-era Danish coin sells for 136,000 DKK at Copenhagen auction

    ·

    A Danish coin dating back more than 1,000 years has sold for 18,300 euros, approximately 136,000 DKK, at an auction in Copenhagen.

    The coin, associated with Viking king Svend Tveskæg, fetched more than twice its estimated price of 6,000 to 8,000 euros, or roughly 45,000 to 60,000 DKK.

    Auction house Stack’s Bowers confirmed the sale on its website following Tuesday’s auction.

    The coin is considered the first official Danish coin to feature both the name of a Danish ruler and the country’s name.

    Svend Tveskæg was the first ruler to have his name appear on a Danish coin.

    “This coin type is considered the first official Danish coin and has an exceptionally great historical significance because it was the first Danish coin that bore both the king’s and the country’s name,” the auction house stated.

    However, archaeological discoveries indicate that coins were used in Denmark long before this particular type was produced.

    The coin weighs just 1.95 grams and had previously been broken into several pieces before being repaired, according to the auction house.

    It belonged to a collection assembled by Danish businessman Lars Emil Bruun, who died in 1923.

    Bruun made his fortune as a butter wholesaler, exporting canned butter to markets around the world.

    In his will, he stipulated that his extensive coin collection could not be sold until 100 years after his death.

    Several other coins from Bruun’s collection were also sold during Tuesday’s auction in Copenhagen.

    The auction is scheduled to continue Wednesday, October 28.

  • Electrical products sold at Bilka and Føtex recalled over electric shock risk

    ·

    Danish company Epiq ApS has recalled four electrical products sold at Bilka and Føtex supermarkets because they pose a risk of electric shock.

    The recall covers power strips, extension cord sets and a double-socket adapter sold between June 2 and September 18, 2026, the company announced in a press release.

    According to Epiq ApS, the affected products lack child safety protection covering the socket openings, creating a potential electric shock hazard.

    The company has urged customers to “immediately stop using the products” and return them to the store where they were purchased.

    Customers will receive a full refund even if they no longer have their receipt.

    The recall covers the following four products:

    Scoop ledningssæt med tre stikdåser: A 1.5-meter extension cord with three sockets. EAN code: 5713359129661.

    Basis ledningssæt med fire stikdåser: A 1.5-meter extension cord with four sockets. EAN code: 5713359131749.

    Scoop ledningssæt med fem stikdåser: A 1.5-meter extension cord with five sockets. EAN code: 5713359129692.

    Scoop dobbeltstik: A double-socket adapter. EAN code: 5713359129685.

    An EAN code is a product identification number commonly found on packaging or labels. Epiq ApS says the codes for the recalled items can be found on the back of the products.

    Consumers can use these numbers to check whether an electrical product they purchased is affected by the recall.

    The company has instructed customers to return affected products to their original Bilka or Føtex store for a refund without requiring proof of purchase.

  • Veteran Venstre lawmaker expelled over party discipline dispute

    ·

    Preben Bang Henriksen has been expelled from Venstre, Denmark’s Liberal Party, after refusing to promise that he would follow the party’s position in future parliamentary votes.

    The lawmaker confirmed his expulsion Tuesday following a meeting at Christiansborg, the seat of Denmark’s parliament, the Folketing.

    “The conclusion of a vote was that I am expelled,” he said.

    Henriksen will continue as an independent member of parliament but said he had hoped to remain in Venstre.

    The dispute followed a September vote on legislation concerning fertilizer use, when five Venstre lawmakers opposed the party’s position over concerns about its impact on agriculture.

    Venstre chairman Troels Lund Poulsen subsequently sought stronger party discipline, receiving support from the party’s national executive committee Sunday.

    “Once the debate has taken place, and a majority has decided on a direction, the expectation is that the majority backs it, even if one wished for a different result,” Poulsen said Tuesday.

    Henriksen refused to make that commitment, arguing that lawmakers should retain their independence.

    Under Denmark’s Constitution, members of parliament are bound only by their own convictions.

    However, Venstre’s internal rules prevent lawmakers expelled from its parliamentary group from remaining party members.

    Henriksen, a former lawyer from Aalborg, entered parliament in 2011 at age 57.

    He has served as the party’s justice spokesperson and chaired parliamentary committees overseeing legal affairs and intelligence services.

    Known for following his own conviction, he has previously gone against the party line. In 2021, he voted with eight members against launching an impeachment trial against Inger Støjberg, who ended up being convicted. The members were granted a free vote when they voted.

    In the 2024 book “Ærlig talt – Borgen indefra”, he described that he was close to leaving Venstre because of Lars Løkke Rasmussen’s purchase of clothes with party money. The book also contains criticism of political conformism and the workflows at Christiansborg.

    With Preben Bang Henriksen’s departure, Venstre loses another one of its vote-magnets, as he received the fifth-most votes in Venstre in the election in March 2026.

  • Danish parties move toward majority support for ban on fast-growing chickens

    ·

    Several Danish political parties are backing a ban on breeding fast-growing chickens, commonly called “turbo chickens,” amid concerns about animal welfare.

    Around 70 million of these chickens are produced annually in Denmark, according to Berlingske.

    The Ross 308 breed, widely used in Danish poultry farming, grows from approximately 50 grams to two kilograms in just 33 days.

    Their rapid growth can put considerable strain on their legs, leaving many chickens sitting for much of their final weeks before slaughter, Berlingske reports.

    The Alternative, the Red-Green Alliance, the Socialist People’s Party, the Social Liberal Party, Liberal Alliance and the Conservative People’s Party support a ban. The Denmark Democrats have also expressed support for its aims.

    The Moderates, a centrist party, have changed their position since 2024, when parliament rejected a proposal to ban the production, sale and import of Ross 308 chickens.

    At the time, the governing coalition preferred pursuing a European Union-wide solution.

    “When you say A regarding the pigs, then I also think you have to say B regarding the chickens,” Moderates animal welfare spokesperson Ellen Emilie Mindegaard-Müllertz told Berlingske.

    An EU-wide agreement could take time, while a Danish production ban would not prevent imports from other countries.

    Animal welfare organization Anima recently reported that fast-growing chickens account for two-thirds of chicken sales at Salling Group’s Netto, Bilka and Føtex supermarkets.

    At Rema 1000, the figure is 15 percent.

    Social Democratic animal welfare spokesperson Birgitte Vind also told Berlingske that the chickens’ conditions were unacceptable and should be examined.

  • Rambøll will lay off 400 employees

    ·

    Engineering consultancy Rambøll will lay off 400 employees at management level as it seeks to simplify its organization and speed up decisions, the company announced Tuesday.

    The layoffs are expected to be completed by the end of November. There will also be voluntary departures, though the company declined to say how many.

    CEO Christian Jensby said Rambøll’s growth had made the organization more complex.

    “In many areas, the organization has become difficult to navigate, decisions take too long, and areas of responsibility are not sufficiently clear,” he said in a statement.

    The company plans to remove unnecessary tasks and internal coordination processes to improve collaboration and decision-making.

    Rambøll employs about 18,000 people worldwide, including 4,000 in Denmark. The announcement did not specify how many of the layoffs would affect its Danish workforce.

    The company said it would continue examining ways to streamline the organization, which could also affect employees below management level.

    Jensby took office May 1 after leading Deloitte Denmark.

    Founded in 1945, Rambøll advises clients on construction, transport, the environment, energy and management. The Rambøll Foundation owns 98% of the company, with employees holding the remaining 2%.

  • Norwegian to cut 123 jobs at Copenhagen Airport as it reduces locally based aircraft

    ·

    Norwegian will lay off 123 employees at Copenhagen Airport, including 53 pilots and 70 cabin crew members, as it reduces the number of aircraft based in the Danish capital.

    The decision follows talks with Flyvebranchens Personale Union, or FPU, the union representing the employees, according to Danish business outlet Finans.

    Most affected staff will leave at the end of January next year, with the remaining departures planned 10 months later.

    “It is a sad day for Norwegian, and I am incredibly affected on behalf of the affected employees,” Sara Neergaard, the airline’s country manager in Denmark, told Finans.

    “But there is no other way. The redundancies are happening out of necessity.”

    Norwegian plans to reduce its Copenhagen-based fleet during the summer season from 16 aircraft to 14. The airline says demand varies considerably between seasons, requiring 16 aircraft during the summer peak but only 10 in winter.

    The change will not reduce the number of summer departures from Copenhagen. Some summer routes will instead be operated by aircraft based in Spain.

    Union challenges the decision

    FPU Chair Thilde Waast described the layoffs as an attempt to “undermine Danish working conditions.” In a written response, she accused Norwegian of seeking to replace Danish employees with “cheaper Spanish labor.”

    Neergaard said the union had rejected options that could have reduced the number of layoffs, including seasonal contracts under which staff would work more in summer and less in winter, as well as voluntary leave.

    Norwegian was Copenhagen Airport’s second-largest airline by passenger share last year, according to the airport’s latest financial report. It carried 15% of passengers, behind SAS at 38% and ahead of Ryanair at 9%.

    With 16 aircraft, Copenhagen has been Norwegian’s second-largest base after Oslo. The airline served 77 destinations from Copenhagen last year.

  • EU Commission proposes expanding Frontex border force to 30,000 and increasing its deportation role

    ·

    The European Commission proposed Tuesday expanding the personnel available to Frontex, the EU’s border agency, to 30,000 and giving it a larger role in deportations.

    The plan would create a reserve of 17,000 personnel who could be deployed when needed. According to AFP, these would be national border guards made available by member states.

    Frontex’s own workforce would grow from 3,000 to 6,000, alongside 7,000 personnel already on loan from EU countries. The proposal also includes a rapid reaction force.

    “Europe decides who comes to our union – and under what circumstances,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.

    “Therefore, we are proposing today to strengthen Frontex so that it can support the member states when and where it is needed.”

    The proposal follows an incident in July when thousands of migrants entered Ceuta, a Spanish territory on the African continent, within a short period.

    Established in 2004, Frontex helps EU countries protect the external borders of Europe’s free-movement area. Its responsibilities expanded in 2016, following the previous year’s refugee and migration crisis, to include broader border management and a greater role in fighting cross-border crime.

    The agency frequently faces criticism from migrant rights groups. Melissa Camara, a member of the European Parliament’s Greens group, criticized the direction of EU policy.

    “Ever more oppression, dehumanization of displaced people, and an increasing tendency to mimic the rhetoric of the far right,” she said, according to AFP.

    The proposal requires approval from the European Parliament and the Council, which represents EU member governments.

  • University of Copenhagen rules out second cyberattack, but system disruptions continue

    ·

    The University of Copenhagen says it was not hit by a second cyberattack Monday, reversing its initial assessment after shutting down several administrative systems.

    Activity that appeared to signal another attack prompted the shutdown. By Monday evening, the university had determined that no new attack had occurred, it said on its website.

    However, a controlled shutdown remains necessary as a precaution linked to the original breach, and some systems continue to experience disruptions.

    The university disclosed the first attack Friday. Outsiders gained access to information about approximately 525,000 people, including details such as full names, CPR numbers, Denmark’s personal identification numbers, telephone numbers and private email addresses.

    The breach also compromised ID card PINs belonging to about 20,000 employees and students. The university temporarily restricted physical access to selected critical locations following a security assessment.

    Those locations have reopened after all affected cardholders received new PINs.

    The University of Copenhagen, the Technical University of Denmark and Aarhus University have all faced cyberattacks within a few weeks.

    Christina Egelund, Denmark’s minister for research, higher education and digitalization, previously told Ritzau that leaders from the country’s eight universities had been summoned to a meeting Monday to discuss security.

  • Norwegian confirms job cuts at Copenhagen Airport

    ·

    Norwegian will lay off 123 employees at Copenhagen Airport following discussions with unions, Danish financial news outlet Finans reported.

    The layoffs will affect 53 pilots and 70 cabin crew members and will take place in stages.

    Most employees will leave at the end of January 2027, while the remaining dismissals are scheduled for approximately 10 months later.

    “It is a sad day for Norwegian, and I am incredibly affected on behalf of the affected employees,” Sara Neergaard, Norwegian’s country manager in Denmark, told Finans.

    “But there is no other way. The dismissals are happening out of necessity.”

    Last week, aviation news outlet Check-in.dk reported that 125 employees at Norwegian’s Copenhagen base were at risk of losing their jobs.

    The airline plans to reduce the number of aircraft based in Copenhagen during the summer season from 16 to 14.

    According to Norwegian, the decision reflects significant seasonal differences in passenger demand.

    The airline currently needs 16 aircraft during the busy summer months but only 10 during winter.

    Despite the reduction in Copenhagen-based aircraft, Norwegian says it will maintain its existing number of summer departures from the Danish capital.

    Some routes will instead be operated using aircraft based in Spain.

    Norwegian was Copenhagen Airport’s second-largest airline last year, accounting for 15 percent of passengers, according to the airport’s latest financial statements.

    SAS held the largest share at 38 percent, followed by Ryanair in third place with nine percent.

    With 16 aircraft, Copenhagen has been Norwegian’s second-largest operating base after Oslo.

    Last year, the airline served 77 destinations from Copenhagen Airport.

  • Danish Minister steps down as minister due to stress

    ·

    A change in the government happened overnight, with a member of the government stepping down from her role for health reasons.

    Signe Munk is stepping down as Denmark’s minister for cities, rural areas and transport after becoming ill with stress, the Prime Minister’s Office announced.

    Munk, 36, a member of the Socialist People’s Party, known as SF, said she needed time to recover and find a better balance between work and family life. “I have become ill with stress. And I have decided to step down as minister,” she wrote on Facebook, adding that she intended to remain in politics.

    Munk became a minister when the government was formed this summer, after years of working alongside SF leader Pia Olsen Dyhr to rebuild the party following its crisis in 2014. Fellow SF politician Karina Lorentzen Dehnhardt, who has served as the party’s justice spokesperson, will replace her.

    Lorentzen Dehnhardt first entered Denmark’s parliament in 2007, though she was out of office from 2015 to 2019. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen praised Munk’s contribution to the government negotiations, while Olsen Dyhr expressed full support for her decision to step down.

    Nils Brøgger, an SF senior adviser and former campaign manager, will take Munk’s parliamentary seat during her sick leave. Having served less than a year as minister, Munk will not qualify for a ministerial pension but will receive six months of post-service pay.

  • Three senior doctors leave Rigshospitalet after being sent home following patient safety warnings

    ·

    Three senior doctors who raised concerns about patient safety at Rigshospitalet’s transplant department are leaving the Copenhagen hospital after management sent them home, according to Danish broadcaster DR.

    They were among five senior doctors who wrote to hospital management and the Capital Region, which oversees the hospital, expressing concern after two surgeons left the department earlier this year.

    Nurses and doctors have also raised questions about professional standards at the Department of Transplantation and Diseases of the Digestive System, Denmark’s only unit performing liver transplants.

    At a meeting Monday, hospital managers assured regional politicians that the department still had the quality and capacity needed to treat patients properly.

    Regional council member Christoffer Buster Reinhardt welcomed that assurance but said the departing doctors’ expertise would be difficult to replace. Regional council Chairman Lars Gaardhøj said it was too early to determine whether guidelines for experimental surgery had been breached. Those guidelines cover how procedures are documented and how patients are informed and involved.

    An external investigation will review previous treatments to assess whether the department followed the guidelines and met professional standards.

  • Bank deposits in Denmark fall for two consecutive months

    ·

    Danes’ bank deposits fell for a second consecutive month in September, reaching 1,309.3 billion kroner, according to figures from Danmarks Nationalbank, Denmark’s central bank.

    That was down from 1,317.7 billion kroner in August and 1,323.2 billion kroner in July. Helle Dalsgaard, head of advisory services at pension provider Sampension, said the last decline lasting two consecutive months occurred in January 2023, but cautioned against treating the latest figures as evidence of a broader trend.

    Allan Sørensen, chief economist at Dansk Industri, Denmark’s main employers’ and business association, said September declines were common, occurring in 16 of the past 20 years. He suggested loan payments and spending on autumn and winter clothing could help explain the fall, while noting that September does not bring large child benefit payments or tax refunds.

    Despite the recent declines, deposits remained above the 1,283.1 billion kroner recorded at the beginning of the year. Dalsgaard expects savings to grow again, saying uncertainty about personal finances could encourage Danes to put more money aside.

  • Copenhagen Airport warns of continued security delays into next week

    ·

    Passengers traveling through Copenhagen Airport could face longer waits at security checkpoints during busy periods over the weekend, with delays potentially continuing into next week.

    The airport issued the warning Monday afternoon in a written statement to Ritzau from communications director Lise Agerley Kürstein.

    The delays follow an inspection by Trafikstyrelsen, the Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority, which prompted the airport to introduce additional security measures temporarily.

    The airport has brought in extra staff to help manage queues while maintaining security standards.

    “Copenhagen Airport has called in extra staff and is doing everything we can to get passengers through security control as quickly as possible, while naturally maintaining the necessary high level of security,” Kürstein said.

    Passengers are advised to follow their airlines’ recommendations and arrive at least two hours before flights within the Schengen Area, Europe’s passport-free travel zone, and three hours before flights outside it.

    Neither the airport nor Trafikstyrelsen has explained what prompted the additional security requirements.

    However, the airport previously told Danish broadcaster DR that the measures were not introduced because of external factors.

    Speaking to Ritzau on Friday, Kürstein acknowledged passengers’ questions about the changes but said details of security procedures could not be disclosed.

    “I understand the curiosity about there being some changed security considerations right now, but we cannot go further into details about our security procedures. But it is important to say that security is always top-notch, and that it is safe to fly,” she said.

    Trafikstyrelsen will determine when normal security operations can resume or whether the airport must make permanent changes to its procedures.

  • Life in Denmark

    Denmark’s preliminary tax assessments for 2027 open soon after two-week delay

    ·

    After the Danish Tax Agency (Skattestyrelsen) delayed access by two weeks to allow for possible changes to tax deductions, more than 5.5 million people in Denmark will be able to check their preliminary tax assessments for 2027 from November 24.

    The agency is urging taxpayers to review their…

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  • University of Copenhagen hit by second cyberattack days after first

    ·

    The University of Copenhagen (KU) shut down several administrative systems Monday after another cyberattack, just days after hackers gained access to personal information belonging to approximately 525,000 people. The university confirmed the latest attack on its website, reporting disruptions to several administrative systems and difficulties accessing university websites on Monday evening. The previous breach exposed personal information including full names, CPR numbers, Denmark’s personal identification numbers, work and private telephone numbers, and private email addresses. The university has not provided further details about Monday’s attack. Denmark’s Minister for Research, Education and Digitalization, Christina Egelund of Moderaterne (the Moderates), expressed serious concern about the repeated incidents. “It is the second time in a short period, and it does not become less serious that it comes in the wake of several attacks on our universities,” she told Ritzau. Several Danish universities, including the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and Aarhus University, have also experienced cyberattacks in recent weeks. Egelund said the incidents highlighted the seriousness of the security situation. “It is an attack on our knowledge institutions, which are an absolutely crucial pillar of society in Denmark,” she said. The minister summoned leaders from Denmark’s eight universities to a meeting Monday to discuss cybersecurity. Jens Myrup Pedersen, a cybersecurity professor at Aarhus University, explained that universities hold large amounts of personal and research data, making them attractive targets. Their public visibility also increases their exposure to cyber threats. “That makes us potential targets for both cybercriminals, foreign states, and activist groups,” he said in an Aarhus University press release.

  • New Danish media outlet Projekt Y to launch with AI-written news

    ·

    A new Danish news outlet, Projekt Y, launches today at 1 p.m. with an approach that combines artificial intelligence-generated articles with traditional editorial oversight.

    Editor-in-chief Michael Dyrby describes the content as AI-assisted rather than fully automated.

    Human editors select stories, determine their angles, review AI-generated drafts, make revisions and choose images before publication.

    “We could have made it so that AI did everything. But it doesn’t,” Dyrby said.

    AI assistants will also help identify potential stories from research reports, press releases and other news outlets.

    The aim is to produce more journalism with fewer resources while maintaining editorial control.

    Whether readers want AI-written news remains uncertain.

    “We will find out,” Dyrby said, describing Projekt Y as an experiment in journalism’s future.

    Initially, the outlet will cover Danish politics, business and international affairs from a broadly center-right perspective, although Dyrby says it will not follow a rigid ideology.

    Its target audience is primarily adults aged 28 to around 60.

    Dyrby, who graduated from the Danish School of Journalism in 1989, previously helped launch TV 2 News in the mid-2000s.

    Projekt Y has received media subsidies and will also generate revenue through advertising.

    Coverage could eventually expand to sports and culture.

    Beyond publishing news, the company plans to develop technology that allows others to establish their own media outlets.

    “The ambition is to create a technology that is so simple that everyone can use it and create their own media outlet, and in that way help democratize the use of media,” Dyrby said.

    Additional publications are planned throughout the remainder of this year and into 2027.

  • Danes expect businesses to benefit more from AI than workers

    ·

    Two-thirds of Danes believe artificial intelligence will benefit Danish companies, while only about half as many expect employees to gain from the technology.

    The findings come from a new survey by TrygFonden, a Danish foundation supporting safety and social initiatives.

    Frederik Olsen, a senior analyst at Arbejderbevægelsens Erhvervsråd, an economic institute linked to the labor movement, said there was not yet evidence that AI benefited companies more than workers.

    Even in occupations expected to face job losses, employment is developing similarly to the broader labor market, he said.

    Olsen described AI as a productivity improvement but said investment in continuing education and skills development was necessary for both workers and employers to benefit.

    The survey also found concern about young people entering the labor market.

    Six in 10 respondents ages 18 to 35 feared that AI would make it harder for young people and recent graduates to find jobs. Across the full population, 46 percent shared that concern.

    A September analysis from Danmarks Nationalbank, Denmark’s central bank, found that youth employment grew more slowly at companies using AI than at companies that did not.

    However, young workers who might previously have joined AI-using businesses generally found employment elsewhere.

    Nationalbanken expects companies to introduce AI gradually enough for affected workers to find other jobs.

    It nevertheless said uncertainty remained high and could not rule out AI reducing Danish employment over the longer term.

  • Danish publisher bans AI tools for work on manuscripts

    ·

    Danish publisher Lindhardt og Ringhof has prohibited employees and external partners from using artificial intelligence to complete work for the company.

    The ban applies to proofreaders, editors, manuscript readers and consultants, according to a letter distributed by the publisher.

    “It is not permitted for any purpose to use AI tools for tasks that one as an external partner solves for Lindhardt og Ringhof,” the letter states.

    Manuscripts and other documents provided by the publisher must not be uploaded to AI systems under any circumstances.

    The company said even apparently harmless uses, such as asking AI to summarize a manuscript, could create legal and copyright risks.

    “Texts that are uploaded into AI tools can subsequently be copied and data mined, even if the provider claims otherwise,” the publisher said.

    Literary director Sune de Souza Schmidt-Madsen told Danish public broadcaster DR that Lindhardt og Ringhof was not aware of external partners already using AI for its assignments.

    However, he said the publisher expected the issue to emerge eventually and wanted to establish its rules in advance.

    The restrictions also apply to the publisher’s own employees, Schmidt-Madsen said.

  • Denmark issues safety guidance for vulnerable people after CPR data leak

    ·

    The Agency for Societal Security has published new guidance for people who may face increased risks following the leak of 8.8 million Danish CPR numbers and other personal information.

    CPR numbers are Denmark’s personal identification numbers.

    The advice is aimed at people who have previously experienced harassment, hold jobs that could attract criminal attention or are publicly known and at risk of having their names misused.

    It also covers people whose names may expose them to harassment or identify them as members of vulnerable social, ethnic or religious minorities.

    “The leak means that persons among these exposed or vulnerable groups of people must have a greater awareness of, among other things, their surroundings, behavior on social media and the security of their homes,” the agency said.

    People who believe they face physical danger because a specific person may now know their address can consider applying for name and address protection.

    The agency also recommends considering contact with police, a crisis center, the Danish Stalking Center or another specialized counseling service.

    People can additionally request a hidden, secret or unlisted telephone number.

    A hidden number prevents the recipient of a call from seeing the caller’s number.

    Secret and unlisted numbers are also excluded from public telecommunications services, directory assistance and online telephone directories.

  • Power fault causes train delays and cancellations across Zealand

    ·

    Passengers should expect longer travel times on most train services across Zealand because of a power fault at Copenhagen Central Station.

    Three tracks at the station were without traction power Monday morning, DSB, Denmark’s national rail operator, said.

    The fault caused several cancellations and reduced services between Copenhagen Central Station and Næstved via Køge.

    “Banedanmark is working on resolving the fault,” DSB wrote on X.

    Banedanmark is the state agency responsible for maintaining Denmark’s railway infrastructure.

    Danish traffic service P4 Trafik reported at 10:50 a.m. that trains at Copenhagen Central Station had temporarily stopped because of the missing power.

    Services were expected to resume shortly, although passengers would continue to experience delays and occasional cancellations.

    Copenhagen’s S-train network was not affected and continued to operate normally.

  • Strong winds and high water to ease as calmer weather reaches Denmark

    ·

    Denmark’s week will begin with strong winds and elevated coastal water levels before calmer and sunnier conditions arrive around Thursday.

    The strongest winds Monday morning were along Jutland’s west coast between Blåvandshuk and Skagen, Danish Meteorological Institute meteorologist Mette Zhang said.

    Some areas continued to experience storm-force gusts, although the wind was expected to weaken during the day.

    DMI maintained warnings for elevated water levels around the Wadden Sea, the central western coast of Jutland and parts of the Limfjord.

    Water levels in the Wadden Sea reached more than three meters above normal overnight but were beginning to fall.

    Western Denmark will experience the most clouds Monday, while eastern areas will have clearer conditions. Showers are expected in several places before conditions improve later in the day.

    Temperatures will range from 9 to 13 degrees Celsius.

    A new front will bring clouds, rain and stronger southerly winds overnight into Tuesday. Winds could reach gale force along the west coast, although less rain is expected than during the weekend.

    Wednesday will bring a mixture of rain, showers and sunshine.

    A high-pressure system is expected to stabilize the weather from Thursday, bringing less wind, drier conditions and more sunshine.

    Fog may form overnight into Thursday and Friday. Clearer skies will also increase the risk of overnight frost, particularly heading into Saturday.

  • Denmark investigates suspected Shamonda virus infection in cattle

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    Statens Serum Institut, Denmark’s national infectious disease institute, is investigating a suspected case of Shamonda virus in Danish cattle.

    The suspicion is based on new information from the agricultural industry, SSI said. The institute has not previously detected the virus in Denmark.

    The investigation follows the first confirmed human infection identified by French health authorities.

    The French patient, who was severely immunocompromised and lived in an area with known infections, later died. The information provided did not establish whether the virus caused the death.

    SSI said it was monitoring developments but currently saw no reason for concern among the general population.

    The risk of human illness is assessed as “very limited.”

    “It cannot be ruled out that the virus can also occur in Denmark, but it is important to emphasize that even if the virus is found in this country, it does not necessarily mean that people become ill,” SSI said.

    Shamonda virus usually affects livestock and spreads through small blood-sucking midges.

    It was first identified in Nigeria during the 1960s and has since been found occasionally in animals in Africa and Japan. In 2026, it has spread among cattle in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

    Farmers and veterinarians are being asked to report unusual illness or reproductive problems, including fever, diarrhea, reduced milk production, abortions and stillborn or deformed calves.

  • Danish Crown confirms slaughter without stunning at Polish subsidiary

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    Danish Crown has confirmed that its Polish subsidiary Sokolow uses kosher slaughter without prior stunning at one of its facilities.

    The practice occurs on a limited basis at a slaughterhouse in Tarnow in southeastern Poland, Danish financial news outlet Finans reported.

    Kosher slaughter follows Jewish dietary rules and involves cutting an animal’s throat without first stunning it.

    The method is legal in Poland but has been prohibited in Denmark since 2014, when prior stunning became mandatory.

    Danish Crown said the Polish facility slaughtered 69,000 cattle in 2025. The company said only “a minority” were slaughtered using the kosher method but declined to provide a specific number.

    Several animal welfare organizations criticized the company’s involvement.

    Søren Kent Pedersen, a veterinarian with animal welfare organization Dyrenes Beskyttelse, described the practice as animal cruelty and accused Danish Crown of hypocrisy because the company publicly emphasizes animal welfare.

    Danish Crown’s website states that “good animal welfare is the core of our business” and that the company protects animals’ well-being from farms through slaughter.

    Sokolow chief executive Przemyslaw Gostkiewicz said Poland has a particular tradition of kosher slaughter that allows Jewish people to follow their dietary rules.

    “We use the slaughter method, even though it naturally raises dilemmas regarding animal welfare, regardless of the fact that the method is fully legal,” he said.

    Danish Crown did not say whether it would continue permitting the practice.

  • Parents urged to check children’s electric scooters after illegal riding cases

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    Danish road safety authorities are urging parents to check electric scooters used by their children after police stopped underage riders and scooters capable of greatly exceeding the legal speed limit.

    Riders must be at least 15 years old to use an electric scooter alone in traffic. Scooters may travel no faster than 20 kilometers per hour, and helmets are mandatory.

    Children under 15 may ride in traffic only when accompanied by an adult.

    The Danish Road Safety Council identified 21 reported cases between September 13 and October 13 involving children who were too young or scooters that could travel too fast.

    The figure came from media coverage and police reports rather than a complete national count.

    Children as young as nine were stopped, while some scooters could reach speeds of up to 90 kilometers per hour.

    “Parents should take it seriously and check the rules before saying yes to an electric scooter,” council chief executive Jakob Bøving Arendt said.

    Emergency departments in Odense and Svendborg have treated 811 people injured in electric scooter accidents since 2021. Twenty-five percent suffered serious injuries.

    Odense University Hospital physician Jens Lauritsen said crashes can cause severe injuries even at legal speeds.

    Modified scooters capable of traveling 60, 80 or 100 kilometers per hour could endanger both riders and others, he said.

  • Denmark to cull 27,000 turkeys after bird flu outbreak on Lolland

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    Danish authorities will cull 27,000 turkeys Monday after highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a flock in Stokkemarke on the island of Lolland.

    It is Denmark’s second confirmed outbreak of the highly contagious disease within one week, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said.

    Another outbreak was identified Friday in a flock in Bøgelunde in Slagelse Municipality.

    “It is therefore extra important at this time of year that everyone who keeps poultry or other birds does everything to prevent contact between their animals and wild birds,” agency veterinarian Mette Kirkeskov Sie said.

    Owners should prevent wild birds from reaching their animals, drinking water and feed. The agency also recommends changing footwear before entering areas where birds are kept.

    Authorities have established protection and surveillance zones around the infected flock on Lolland. Poultry owners within those areas must follow stricter disease control requirements.

    The restrictions will remain until authorities complete their investigations and determine that the risk of further transmission has declined.

    The agency said avian influenza only very rarely spreads to humans.

    However, people should avoid touching sick, weakened or dead wild birds.

    Denmark’s current threat assessment for highly pathogenic avian influenza transmitted by wild birds remains at the medium level.

  • Danish authorities urge companies to strengthen personal data protections

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    The Agency for Public Security has urged Danish authorities and companies to reduce the risk of personal information being systematically retrieved from their IT systems.

    The warning follows several major incidents involving unauthorized access to personal data.

    Dansk Industri, the Confederation of Danish Industry and a major business association, said the advice applies beyond systems directly connected to the national CPR register.

    It covers any system where identification details, such as a CPR or customer number, can be used to retrieve names, addresses or other personal information.

    CPR numbers are Denmark’s personal identification numbers.

    The warning follows the leak of 8.8 million CPR numbers and separate cyberattacks affecting the University of Copenhagen and telecommunications company 3 Denmark.

    The university said hackers accessed information involving approximately 525,000 people. Meanwhile, 3 Denmark said unauthorized parties may have accessed names and addresses belonging to as many as 400,000 private customers.

    “The special thing about the threat is that the perpetrator does not necessarily need to break into a system,” Dansk Industri cybersecurity expert Jeppe Engell said.

    Access can instead be misused to conduct unusually large numbers of searches, he added.

    Dansk Industri recommends identifying systems that retrieve personal data, removing unnecessary access, reviewing logs for suspicious patterns and limiting the number of searches.

    Companies should also decide in advance who is responsible for investigating and shutting down suspicious access, including systems operated by external suppliers.