Weekly political overview
The temporary border control with Germany is extended again for another six months. Why? The terrorist threat against Denmark remains high. To avoid delays on trains between Denmark and Germany, the border control police will start controls from the moment the border is crossed while the train is in motion.
15 billion DKK investment in green research and innovation. The government is looking to fund ideas within CO2 capture, green fuels (PtX), agriculture / food, and the circular economy.
New rules for lobster fishing. First, you will need a special permit to fish for lobsters in Limfjord. Furthermore, you can only catch a maximum of five lobsters per day. Also, it will be illegal to deploy nets for lobster fishing between April 1 and November 30. Read more here.
The government wants to ban first-degree cousin marriages. Why? Because Sweden wants to do it. Sweden also wants to ban half-sibling marriages (which is already illegal in Denmark).
Moderaterne (Social Liberals) have pressured the other two government parties to support lowering the VAT (moms) for fruits and vegetables. The idea is to reduce VAT from 25% to 15%, saving the average family of four around 1,400 DKK a year. The cost ofthis initiative is not small – two billion less DKK annually in the state treasury. Is it worth it? A healthier lifestyle will potentially lead to 25 million DKK yearly savings in the healthcare system.
The four “blue” parties from the opposition have created a united front for negotiations on the 2025 budget. Dansk Folkeparti (Nationalist Conservative), Danmarksdemokraterne (Nationalist Populist), Liberal Alliance (Liberal Conservative), and Konservative (Conservatives) have united in negotiations with the government for how tax money should be spent next year.
- They have six common requests: To fire 1,000 people from state administration; to remove tinglysningsafgiften (land registration tax) on up to 500,000 DKK mortgages; to allow hjemmepasning (staying at home with children until three years old) in every municipality; 200 million DKK extra for defense; more money for prison facilities; and higher senior premiums so that more people choose to work after retirement age.
The government has offered 500 million DKK from next year’s budget, which can be negotiated with the opposition parties. Basically, this is a chance for the opposition to finance one or more proposals.
Focus
High school education reform: In Denmark, when you finish 9 or 10 years of “folkeskole” (primary and secondary school), you can choose to go to a gymnasium (high school). Today, you can choose between STX (general theoretical education for those aiming for university); HHX (business and economic education); HTX (technological and science education); HF (2-year program professional education) and EUX (vocational education). The government proposed to change the options for high school education from 2030.
- First, HF and EUX will be removed as options. They will be replaced by EPX, aimed at students considering a vocational education to master a trade, like electrician, welder, etc.
- The first EPX generation will be in 2030. Until then, 5 billion DKK will be invested to open 87 educational institutions around the country. EPX will be two years long, with the option to extend for one year if you want to go to university.
- The future of HTX is uncertain. It might be fused with STX in the future.
- From 2030, the entry level for STX and HHX will be an average grade of 6 (instead of the level of today, which is 5), while for EPX it will be an average grade of 2.
- The professional bachelors for vocational education (nurses, pedagogues, etc.) will be shortened from 3 years and 6 months to 3 years and 3 months. The bachelor exam project will be replaced by a practice-oriented professional test. There is an exception for maritime education and teacher education.
- The 10th grade from “folkeskole” will be abolished. You can still take it as a preparatory year for the high school entrance exam. If you don’t have the minimum grade average, you can take an entrance exam instead.
- One-year professional masters will be created as an option for those looking for a more practice-oriented education.
- 2.1 billion DKK investment in vocational education programs to increase quality.
The best part of the reform? 400 study places in English for vocational education (professional bachelors and masters). The places will be outside the four big cities and within programs connected to technology and science.
