A small majority of Danes favour adopting the euro in place of Denmark's crown, but a referendum would turn out to be an extremely tight race. A poll taken in September indicated that 38.4 percent of Danes said they would adopt the euro while 37.8 percent were against.
Adoption of the Euro was rejected by the Danish government in 2000 on the back of a referendum however it would seem people have warmed towards the European currency at the end of last year when the financial crisis deepened and consumers found their wallets hit by high interest rates.
That pressure has eased as the Danish central bank began cutting its key interest rate from 5.50 percent in November 2008. The lending rate now stands at 1.35 percent. The bank's monetary policy aims to keep the crown steady within a narrow band to the euro.
Denmark's centre-right government has said a vote before 2011 is not on the cards even though the governing coalition partners favour the euro. Denmark has opt-outs from European Union co-operation in the areas of monetary policy, defence, justice and home affairs.
The Danish government wishes to eliminate all the exemptions, and has said it will hold a referendum on them when the time is right and when it would be certain to prevail.
Thursday 24 September 2009
Thursday 17 September 2009
What is hygge?
Hygge ['hoo-ga'] - a deep sense of place & well-being; a feeling of friendship, warmth, contentment and peace with your immediate surroundings.
Hygge is a Danish concept which roughly describes that warm and fuzzy feeling when you’re surrounded by good food and good company. Hygge is an important element of the Danish mentality. The term is difficult to translate, but it is often, inadequately, translated as cosiness. Yet, it is much more than that because it encompasses many different words. Hygge can mean cosy, comfy, snug and having a good time according to the context the word is used in, but most of all hygge means all of that in one term which makes it such a unique Danish word.
The term hygge is widely used and connected with different situations. For instance you can have a hygge-evening and a hygge-weekend. You can have a hygge-chat and you can even sit in a hygge-corner.
Hyggelig is the adjective for hygge and is used about many things. A person can be described as hyggelig, a café and a town – especially if it is a small town – can be hyggelig. Furniture for instance a sofa can be hyggelig and candlelights are definitely hyggelige.
Needless to say everyone deserves a bit of Hygge in their life!
Hygge is a Danish concept which roughly describes that warm and fuzzy feeling when you’re surrounded by good food and good company. Hygge is an important element of the Danish mentality. The term is difficult to translate, but it is often, inadequately, translated as cosiness. Yet, it is much more than that because it encompasses many different words. Hygge can mean cosy, comfy, snug and having a good time according to the context the word is used in, but most of all hygge means all of that in one term which makes it such a unique Danish word.
The term hygge is widely used and connected with different situations. For instance you can have a hygge-evening and a hygge-weekend. You can have a hygge-chat and you can even sit in a hygge-corner.
Hyggelig is the adjective for hygge and is used about many things. A person can be described as hyggelig, a café and a town – especially if it is a small town – can be hyggelig. Furniture for instance a sofa can be hyggelig and candlelights are definitely hyggelige.
Needless to say everyone deserves a bit of Hygge in their life!
Thursday 10 September 2009
Danish PM in India on climate change.
Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen visits India on Thursday in a bid to speed up negotiations on a climate deal ahead of a key summit in Copenhagen in December.
Rasmussen's three-day trip will include meetings with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh and the UN's top climate scientist Rajendra Pachauri, who is chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
India, the world's third-biggest polluter, fears the fight against global warming will hamper its economic development and has insisted that wealthy, developed nations take responsibility for the consequences of climate change.
Like China, it refuses to commit to detailed carbon dioxide reductions in any international treaty. World leaders will meet in Denmark in December to negotiate a new international accord on fighting climate change after the Kyoto Protocol requirements expire in 2012.
On Tuesday, at the start of the Nordic Climate Solutions conference gathering decision-makers and businessmen in Copenhagen, Rasmussen said the negotiations were progressing slowly "in all areas."
"It's very difficult because these are not just issues concerning the climate," but also the economy and technology, he said.
"Take the example of India, where I will meet the Indian prime minister who wants to gives his population of one billion some prosperity and who therefore doesn't want to commit to restrictive reductions unless the world brings new technology to his country," Rasmussen said.
The Danish leader will also hold talks on foreign policy and the economy, his office said in a statement. Denmark and India are due to sign a cooperation accord on the environment during Rasmussen's visit.
Rasmussen's three-day trip will include meetings with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh and the UN's top climate scientist Rajendra Pachauri, who is chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
India, the world's third-biggest polluter, fears the fight against global warming will hamper its economic development and has insisted that wealthy, developed nations take responsibility for the consequences of climate change.
Like China, it refuses to commit to detailed carbon dioxide reductions in any international treaty. World leaders will meet in Denmark in December to negotiate a new international accord on fighting climate change after the Kyoto Protocol requirements expire in 2012.
On Tuesday, at the start of the Nordic Climate Solutions conference gathering decision-makers and businessmen in Copenhagen, Rasmussen said the negotiations were progressing slowly "in all areas."
"It's very difficult because these are not just issues concerning the climate," but also the economy and technology, he said.
"Take the example of India, where I will meet the Indian prime minister who wants to gives his population of one billion some prosperity and who therefore doesn't want to commit to restrictive reductions unless the world brings new technology to his country," Rasmussen said.
The Danish leader will also hold talks on foreign policy and the economy, his office said in a statement. Denmark and India are due to sign a cooperation accord on the environment during Rasmussen's visit.
Friday 4 September 2009
Nordic giant to buy Danish bank
Swedish bank Nordea has signed a contract to buy Denmark's Fionia Bank for 121m euros ($173m; £107m) from the Danish state.
The Stockholm-based bank said the deal includes 400 staff at 29 branches. The agreement is subject to approval by the Danish authorities, which took control of Fionia following the global financial meltdown in February.
The deal should give an investment return by 2011, said Nordea, the Nordic region's biggest financial group.
"We have captured a unique opportunity," added the bank. "By acquiring Fionia we continue our growth in Denmark... to the benefit of both Fionia's and Nordea's customers and our shareholders."
Nordea has managed to avoid much of the fallout from US "toxic assets".
Since the Danish state took over control of Fionia it has injected $169m into the bank to meet solvency requirements.
The Stockholm-based bank said the deal includes 400 staff at 29 branches. The agreement is subject to approval by the Danish authorities, which took control of Fionia following the global financial meltdown in February.
The deal should give an investment return by 2011, said Nordea, the Nordic region's biggest financial group.
"We have captured a unique opportunity," added the bank. "By acquiring Fionia we continue our growth in Denmark... to the benefit of both Fionia's and Nordea's customers and our shareholders."
Nordea has managed to avoid much of the fallout from US "toxic assets".
Since the Danish state took over control of Fionia it has injected $169m into the bank to meet solvency requirements.
Wednesday 26 August 2009
Obligatory Danish language tests for foreigners
Foreigners could be charged 3000 kroner for a mandatory Danish language test from next year.
Foreigners seeking residency through family reunification may be required to cough up 3000 kroner for a new mandatory Danish language test, reports Kristeligt Dagblad newspaper.
The ‘Immigration Test’ has been in the works since 2006 with several trial tests and reviews being conducted. It will also be mandatory for all religious preachers seeking residency here.
According to the government’s new budget proposal the final version will be ready form early next year. In addition to testing language skills, the exam also requires a residency applicant to know facts about Danish culture and society.
Although it has not yet been ratified by parliament, the Liberal-Conservative government’s proposal reportedly has the support of the Danish People’s Party, which is enough to pass it into law. Marianne Jelved, the Social Liberal integration spokeswoman, was baffled by the cost of taking the test and said her party did not support such immigration procedures.
‘For us it’s more important that Danish residents can live here with their spouses and children,’ she said.
Henriette Kjær, the Conservative immigration spokeswoman, said the test was unlikely to be difficult, rather like mastering ‘tourist Danish’.
But Danish People’s Party MP Jesper Langballe said if the test could cut down the number of immigrants coming to Denmark, then it would serve its purpose.
‘We wouldn’t be sorry if it meant the number of applicants fell,’ he said.
Spouses of Danish citizens who come to Denmark after living in another EU country will be exempt from taking the test.
Foreigners seeking residency through family reunification may be required to cough up 3000 kroner for a new mandatory Danish language test, reports Kristeligt Dagblad newspaper.
The ‘Immigration Test’ has been in the works since 2006 with several trial tests and reviews being conducted. It will also be mandatory for all religious preachers seeking residency here.
According to the government’s new budget proposal the final version will be ready form early next year. In addition to testing language skills, the exam also requires a residency applicant to know facts about Danish culture and society.
Although it has not yet been ratified by parliament, the Liberal-Conservative government’s proposal reportedly has the support of the Danish People’s Party, which is enough to pass it into law. Marianne Jelved, the Social Liberal integration spokeswoman, was baffled by the cost of taking the test and said her party did not support such immigration procedures.
‘For us it’s more important that Danish residents can live here with their spouses and children,’ she said.
Henriette Kjær, the Conservative immigration spokeswoman, said the test was unlikely to be difficult, rather like mastering ‘tourist Danish’.
But Danish People’s Party MP Jesper Langballe said if the test could cut down the number of immigrants coming to Denmark, then it would serve its purpose.
‘We wouldn’t be sorry if it meant the number of applicants fell,’ he said.
Spouses of Danish citizens who come to Denmark after living in another EU country will be exempt from taking the test.
Thursday 13 August 2009
Danish-owned wind blade factories in Britain closed after protests
A Danish-owned wind turbine firm closed two factories in Britain Wednesday with the loss of 425 jobs following a two-week 'occupation' by angry workers.
Vestas Wind Systems said it had ceased blade production activities at its sites on the Isle of Wight and in Southampton, southern England, because of lack of demand.
The Danish firm obtained a court order last week to remove six workers who had occupied the Isle of Wight plant for over two weeks to delay its closure.
The decision to close the plants had been 'very difficult,' Ole Borup Jakobsen, president of Vestas Blades, said.
'Nonetheless, this commercial decision was absolutely necessary to secure Vestas's competitiveness and create a regional balance between production and the demand for wind turbines,' he added.
Vestas Wind Systems said it had ceased blade production activities at its sites on the Isle of Wight and in Southampton, southern England, because of lack of demand.
The Danish firm obtained a court order last week to remove six workers who had occupied the Isle of Wight plant for over two weeks to delay its closure.
The decision to close the plants had been 'very difficult,' Ole Borup Jakobsen, president of Vestas Blades, said.
'Nonetheless, this commercial decision was absolutely necessary to secure Vestas's competitiveness and create a regional balance between production and the demand for wind turbines,' he added.
Thursday 6 August 2009
Men with livelier, more plentiful sperm live longer
Healthier sperm may mean longer life, according to a study that followed more than 40,000 Danish men for up to 40 years.
Dr. Tina Kold Jensen, who was involved in the study, said: "No matter what you look at, the risk of dying is decreased if you have a good semen quality compared to low; the poorer the semen quality, the higher the risk of dying."
While the findings shouldn't scare men whose semen quality isn't tip-top, they do suggest that these men should be checked out for other illnesses, especially testicular cancer, said Jensen, of the University of Southern Denmark in Odense.
Male infertility has become increasingly common over the past 50 years, Jensen and her team point out in the American Journal of Epidemiology, and some investigators have suggested that abnormal development of male reproductive organs in the womb could be responsible. This "fetal origins hypothesis" has also been tied to widespread illnesses in later life like heart disease and diabetes, they add.
To test the hypothesis that semen quality might therefore be related to illness and death, the researchers looked at men who had been referred to the Copenhagen Sperm Analysis Laboratory between 1963 and 2001, following them through the end of 2001 or until they died. They restricted their analysis to 43,277 men with viable sperm in their semen.
Dr. Tina Kold Jensen, who was involved in the study, said: "No matter what you look at, the risk of dying is decreased if you have a good semen quality compared to low; the poorer the semen quality, the higher the risk of dying."
While the findings shouldn't scare men whose semen quality isn't tip-top, they do suggest that these men should be checked out for other illnesses, especially testicular cancer, said Jensen, of the University of Southern Denmark in Odense.
Male infertility has become increasingly common over the past 50 years, Jensen and her team point out in the American Journal of Epidemiology, and some investigators have suggested that abnormal development of male reproductive organs in the womb could be responsible. This "fetal origins hypothesis" has also been tied to widespread illnesses in later life like heart disease and diabetes, they add.
To test the hypothesis that semen quality might therefore be related to illness and death, the researchers looked at men who had been referred to the Copenhagen Sperm Analysis Laboratory between 1963 and 2001, following them through the end of 2001 or until they died. They restricted their analysis to 43,277 men with viable sperm in their semen.
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