The negotiations for next year’s budget have kicked off with the traditional finance law, drafted by the government. Until the Parliament goes back in session (in October), the opposition parties have the chance to negotiate financing for their own political ideas. Amendments can still be made to the draft finance law until the final vote of the third reading in Parliament. We should have the final finance law ready before Christmas.
When a draft finance law is proposed, a pool of money is left unallocated so that the opposition parties can add some ideas to the final law. However, this time, the pool of money is really small (500 million DKK), as the government has a majority in Parliament, so there isn’t a need to buy the votes of the opposition parties.
The government’s main points of focus for 2024 are climate, healthcare, welfare, education, safety, diplomacy, culture, and entrepreneurship.
1 billion DKK for climate initiatives:
- 100 million DKK to help transport companies transition towards hydrogen and electric trucks.
- 40 million DKK to encourage more homeowners to consider renewable energy sources.
- 100 million DKK to develop a national framework for the green transition.
- 190 million DKK towards animal welfare.
- 100 million DKK to continue the “afkoblingsordningen” – a subsidy for people that want to disconnect from the gas network.
- 44 million DKK for a PFAS action plan and a climate adaptation plan.
11 billion DKK for welfare initiatives:
- 5 billion DKK extra for the healthcare system, out of which 300 million DKK towards the area of cancer.
- 467 million DKK extra for psychiatry.
- 1 billion DKK extra for the local and regional councils that are financially struggling.
- 2.4 billion DKK extra for the areas of welfare administered by local councils and 1.35 billion DKK extra for the regional councils.
- 45 million DKK to expand the number of free fertility treatment trials.
- 100 million DKK to support vulnerable elderly people.
- 250 million DKK to finance projects in rural areas.
1 billion DKK for education initiatives:
- 300 million DKK extra for vocational schools.
- 35 million DKK extra for public schools dedicated to children with learning difficulties.
- 47 million DKK investment in the quality of teacher education.
- 300 million DKK to make the scheme where unemployed people can take a vocational education while getting 110% unemployment benefits permanent.
18 billion DKK for safety initiatives:
- 500 million DKK for the Danish Foreign Service and the diplomatic efforts around the world.
- 13.9 billion DKK for military support for Ukraine.
- 1.5 billion DKK in development aid for Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia.
- 445 million DKK to reduce the waiting time for justice court cases to be processed.
- 100 million DKK for initiatives against gangs (organized crime).
- 1.5 billion DKK to strengthen the police and prosecution.
300 million DKK for cultural initiatives
- 125 million DKK for cultural initiatives and the upcoming museum reform.
- 50 million DKK for a cultural pass for young people (that are neither employed, or enrolled).
- 34 million DKK to establish an Institute for Danish Game Development.
- 80 million DKK to organize major international sports events in Denmark.
500 million DKK for entrepreneurship initiatives:
- 300 million DKK for programs that stimulate entrepreneurship.
- 50 million DKK for the development of quantum technology.
- 100 million DKK for ideas from the life sciences area.
- 25 million DKK for tourism initiatives.
Focus: 110% unemployment benefits if you take vocational education
- You can pursue an education in a field that lacks workers
- You need to be over 30 years old, unskilled, or skilled with an outdated education.
