NordenBladet – The UN Secretary-General has requested Denmark to take up a leading position towards the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, 23 September 2019. Specifically, Denmark is due to lead the energy transition track in order to advance sustainable energy. A particular focus will be on clean energy investments in emerging economies and least developed countries.
An accelerated global energy transition is urgent, if the world is to live up to the ambitious targets of the Paris Agreement. To reach our common goals, developed countries, major emerging economies as well as developing countries must carry out significant transformations of their energy sectors. Particularly the world’s poorest countries can benefit from cooperation and exchange of best practice in order to improve a sustainable development.
At the UN Climate Action Summit, 23 September 2019, the nation states, multilateral development banks, private companies and investors as well as the civil society will exchange best practices and solutions to ensure a focus on increasing climate ambitions and accelerating the green transition. Denmark has been requested to lead the track on promoting the transition of the energy sector towards sustainable energy at a global level. This is recognition of the Danish global climate engagement and development cooperation as well as our front-runner position within green transition.
The energy transition track will be co-led with Ethiopia and the organisation Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). Together, we will focus on the sharing of best practice, concrete solutions and partnerships within renewable energy, energy efficiency, access to energy and sustainable development.
With the Danish engagement in the summit, we build on last year’s successful P4G Summit in Copenhagen as well as many years of experience with development cooperation, including efforts to support reorganisation and improvement of energy sectors in both emerging economies and least developed countries – thus improving global climate and the development of these countries.
“In Denmark, we are proud to take up this leading role and proud to promote our ideas and concrete solutions that has the potential to scale up and increase benefits within energy transformation. We need faster action through innovation, public-private partnerships – as experienced at P4G – and private investments to reach the Paris Agreement. Especially, we need this innovation in the developing countries, where we see the greatest challenges. Denmark is a frontrunner in this area”, says Minister for Development Cooperation, Ulla Tørnæs.
The energy sector is responsible for approximately 80 pct. of the global CO2 emissions. Therefore, a green transition of the energy sector is essential. This is an area, where Denmark has significant experience, including with mobilisation of private investments. Denmark has initiated a Clean Energy Investment Coalition to ensure ambitious commitments in clean energy from governments, international organisations and the private sector.
“The urgent need to address climate change requires a global transition of the energy sector. Therefore, we need massively increased investments in modern and green technology. In this area, we can draw on many years of Danish experience with securing a cost efficient transition towards a sustainable energy system”, says Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate Lars Chr. Lilleholt (V).
In the months to come, the Danish government, with support from Denmark’s Special Envoy for Climate and Energy Ditlev Engel, will work to engage countries, international organizations, investors and civil society in the Danish energy track towards the UN Climate Action Summit 2019.
Facts
Denmark has been appointed to lead the track on “Energy Transition” at the “Climate Action Summit 2019” in New York, 23 September 2019.
The energy sector is responsible for approximately 80 pct. of the global CO2 emissions. Therefore, a green transition of the energy sector is essential to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement.
Through the Clean Energy Investment Coalition, Denmark is working towards securing better framework conditions for investments in clean energy. This is essential for the green transition to succeed.
P4G is a global, trade-oriented initiative aimed at accelerating green transition and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals in growth and development economies by bringing together the private sector, public sector and civil society to create public-private partnerships. Focus is on finding solutions to be scaled up and thereby contribute to systematic changes.
NordenBladet – What to do in Denmark? If you are a nature lover, visit Denmark’s national parks*! There are six national parks in the Kingdom of Denmark; five in Denmark proper and one in Greenland.
The first national park in Denmark proper was Thy National Park (Danish: Nationalpark Thy), created in 2008. It is located in Thisted Municipality, Nordjylland. The park is a narrow stretch of land along the North Jutlandic Island’s west coast from Hanstholm southward to Agger Tange, excluding Hanstholm, Klitmøller, Nørre Vorupør, Stenbjerg and Agger. Thy National Park is named after Thy, an area that includes not only today’s national park but also adjacent land further east. The park has dunes, heath, forests and grassland and also covers several small lakes and a small part of the Limfjord, which is the fjord that separates the North Jutlandic Island from the Cimbrian Peninsula.
In August 2009, the second national park Mols Bjerge National Park was inaugurated, followed by Wadden Sea National Park in October 2010, and Land of the Scylding National Park in 2015. Two additional areas in mainland Denmark were proposed in 2008 and 2009 to become national parks, but one of these plans was abandoned in 2012. The other, Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park, was inaugurated in 2018.
Greenland has had its own national park since 1974. The Northeast Greenland National Park stretches across three fifths of the northern parts of Greenland’s east coast and, since its expansion in 1988, two thirds of the eastern parts of Greenland’s north coast. Bounded by the coasts, the park covers the island’s entire north-eastern quarter, all of which is almost uninhabited.
Like Greenland, the Faroe Islands forms another autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark, but contains no national parks.
Nature awaits, all day every day
Denmark has three national parks, where you can venture out into some of the country’s most beautiful and unique landscape. Danish national parks are open all day, every day, and are free to access. You can explore the parks on foot, by bike, on horseback or by car. Check the signs when you enter to find details and regulations.
Park activities
Denmark’s national parks are un spoilt natural playgrounds where you can try everything from picnics, wild camping and campfires, to cycling, bird watching and horse riding. Each park has a visitor centre with ideas for how to get the most out of your visit and with details on park guides and trails.
1. Thy National Park (read about Nature and Cultural history here)
(Address: Kirkevej 9, 7760 Hurup Thy, Denmark)
Thy National Park (Photo: NordenBladet)
Denmark’s biggest and oldest national park lies on the North West Coast of Jutland. Thy National Park (Danish: Nationalpark Thy) is over 200km² in size and it offers you a dramatic landscape shaped by the sea. Much of it is covered with large areas of windswept dunes and sandy grassland.
Wildlife
Thy National Park is a great place to see wildlife, such as roe and red deer and extremely rare birds, such as the golden plover and sandpiper. Bird enthusiasts should head to Agger Tange, to see flocks of migrating birds. If you’re lucky, from Tved Klitplantage bird hide in early spring, you might even sight dancing cranes.
Cultural experiences
The coastline of Thy National Park is dotted with remnants of the largest WWII bunker network in Northern Europe. At the Museums Center Hanstholm you can learn more about how the system worked. The North Sea Oceanium in North Vorupør, presents you with the rich sea life of the North Sea. In the small fishing villages of North Vorupør and Stenbjerg Landing, you can witness fisherman dragging their boats up onto the shore after a day out at sea.
Activities
Thy National Park is criss-crossed by cycling and walking trails that take you past the best of the park’s scenery. You can even hire Icelandic horses to ride. Klitmøller is known as one of Europe’s best windsurfing spots, and golfers can enjoy the park from Nordvestjysk Golf Club which crosses the park.
2.Mols Bjerge National Park (read about legal status, geography and attractions here)
(Address: Grenåvej 12, 8410 Rønde, Denmark)
The Mols Bjerge National Park (Photo: NordenBladet)
The Mols Bjerge National Park, in East Jutland, is one of the most rugged and varied landscapes in Denmark, with many rare animal and plant species. The park covers 180 km² and is named after the area’s best known natural feature, the Mols Hills.
Spectacular views of the national park
You can see spectacular views of the whole Mols Bjerge National Park at the Jernhatten ridge. The central area of the national park is made up of high heathlands, forests and large open pastures, while along the coast there are many great beaches to discover.
Mols Bjerge Wildlife
You can see otters at Stubbe and Lange lakes, in the north of Mols Bjerge National Park. To the west, you will find the Kaløs marshes and forests are rich with flora and fauna, including rare insects in the park’s trees.
Cultural experiences
There are many Bronze Age sites in the park, with visible mounds to explore. Ancient towns, villages, churches and old manors tell the story of the area’s development over time. Visit Kalø Castle Ruin, the remnants of a royal Middle Age castle. The coastal village of Ebeltoft is a treat, with big attractions such as the Jutland Frigate and Glass Museum.
Activities in Mols Bjerge National Park
You can enjoy a good network of sign-posted cycle and walking routes throughout the park and along the coast you will find quiet, child-friendly swimming beaches. The area also offers you some great fishing spots.
3. The Wadden Sea National Park (Nationalpark Vadehavet) (Address: Havnebyvej 30, 6792 Rømø, Denmark)
The Wadden Sea National Park is Denmark’s largest and newest national park. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its enormous ecological importance as the world’s largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats. Head here for unbeatable bird watching!
Denmark’s newest World Heritage Site
The Wadden Sea is a national park and World Heritage Site in Denmark. It extends along the southern stretch of Denmark’s West Coast, from Ho Bay to the German border. The park is an easily accessible day trip from nearby towns such as Ribe, Denmark’s oldest town, and Esbjerg, home of the imposing Man Meets the Sea sculpture. It’s an unmissable thing to do in Denmark if you love birdwatching, wildlife and exploring intertidal habitats. Visit nearby towns like fascinating Ribe and Esbjerg.
Unique things to see at the Wadden Sea National Park
When the tidal waters retreat, the exposed seabed comes to life and teems with creatures. The Wadden Sea’s sand dunes are popular resting places for breeding colonies of seals. During spring and autumn, you’ll witness the arrival of enormous flocks of migratory birds. Around 12 million migratory birds pass through the Wadden Sea National Park en route to breeding and wintering grounds around the world.
Holiday islands in the Wadden Sea National Park
The islands in the Wadden Sea National Park are popular holiday destinations in Denmark. Rømø Beach is one of the biggest beaches in Europe. For a unique thing to do, take the tractor bus to Mandø island or head to the incredible International Kite Fliers Festival on the island of Fanø.
* A national park is a park in use for conservation purposes. Often it is a reserve of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that a sovereign state declares or owns. Although individual nations designate their own national parks differently, there is a common idea: the conservation of ‘wild nature’ for posterity and as a symbol of national pride. An international organization, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and its World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA), has defined “National Park” as its Category II type of protected areas.
While this type of national park had been proposed previously, the United States established the first “public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people”, Yellowstone National Park, in 1872. Although Yellowstone was not officially termed a “national park” in its establishing law, it was always termed such in practice and is widely held to be the first and oldest national park in the world. However, the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve (established in 1776), and the area surrounding Bogd Khan Uul Mountain (1778) are seen as the oldest legally protected areas, predating Yellowstone by nearly a century. The first area to use “national park” in its creation legislation was the U.S.’s Mackinac, in 1875. Australia’s Royal National Park, established in 1879, was the world’s third official national park. In 1895 ownership of Mackinac National Park was transferred to the State of Michigan as a state park and national park status was consequently lost. As a result, Australia’s Royal National Park is by some considerations the second oldest national park now in existence. Canada established Parks Canada in 1911, becoming the world’s first national service dedicated to protecting and presenting natural and historical treasures.
The largest national park in the world meeting the IUCN definition is the Northeast Greenland National Park, which was established in 1974. According to the IUCN, 6,555 national parks worldwide met its criteria in 2006. IUCN is still discussing the parameters of defining a national park.
National parks are almost always open to visitors. Most national parks provide outdoor recreation and camping opportunities as well as classes designed to educate the public on the importance of conservation and the natural wonders of the land in which the national park is located.
Tags: National parks in Denmark, Danish nature, Denmark, Denmark’s national parks, Jutland, List of national parks of Denmark, Nordic travel, Thy National Park, Tourism, tourist, travel, travel guide, Norden, Scandinavia, Nordic info, Nordic travel, Nordic travel guide, Nordic travel guides. address, area, hours, directions. what to do in Denmark, best things to do in Denmark, visit Denmark, Kingdom of Denmark, culture, Cultural experiences, weather, weather forecast, weather forecast in Denmark. Nationalpark Vadehavet, The Wadden Sea National Park, Mols Bjerge National Park, info, information, articles about Denmark´s national parks, map, maps, videos. Norden Bladet
NordenBladet – His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark will lead a large Danish-Greenlandic delegation promoting Greenland’s business community during the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention in Toronto, Canada. The convention, which is one of the world’s leading conventions in the mining industry, attracts upwards of 26,000 guests from 125 countries. During the visit, HRH The Crown Prince will also promote Danish architecture and the Danish design approach to urban development.
HRH The Crown Prince will visit the international mining convention PDAC in Toronto March 3-4, 2019. The visit will be the Kingdom of Denmark’s largest export promotion involving the Greenland Business Association. HRH The Crown Prince will be joined by the Government of Greenland’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Labour Erik Jensen; the Danish Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate Lars Christian Lilleholt; the Confederation of Danish Industry; the Greenland Business Association; and more than 30 Danish and Greenlandic companies in showcasing Greenland as a mining destination.
The Greenlandic and Danish companies represent various business sectors including transportation, energy, logistics, insurance, and telecommunication and consultancy. The participating companies are part of the value chain of the mining industry and other industries in the Arctic.
HRH The Crown Prince will inaugurate the Danish-Greenlandic booth on the first day of the convention and meet representatives from Danish and Greenlandic companies. On the second day, HRH The Crown Prince will give the opening speech at the “Greenland Day” event, which highlights Greenland’s geological potential for mineral extraction and the possibilities in Greenland for foreign investors.
During the visit, HRH The Crown Prince will also take part in business events focusing on urban development and architecture, including the “Open Architecture Exhibition”, where Danish architects will present North America’s highest non-encapsulated office building constructed in wood. HRH The Crown Prince will also attend a large conference where five Danish architectural firms will present a Danish design approach to urban development and city architecture.
The export promotion will conclude with a Denmark & Greenland in Canada reception.
NordenBladet – Morocco’s counterterrorism chief said Monday (24.Dec) that five more people have been arrested in connection with the horrific ISIS-inspired murders of two Scandinavian hikers in the High Atlas mountains, including the so-called “emir” who masterminded the killings.
Abdelhak Khiam, the head of the country’s central office for judicial investigation, identified the alleged ringleader to Agence France-Presse as Abdessamad Ejjoud, a 25-year-old street vendor who lived on the outskirts of Marrakech. Khiam said Ejjoud had “formed a kind of cell that discussed how to carry out a terrorist act inside the kingdom … targeting the security services or foreign tourists.”
A total of 18 people have been arrested in the murders of 28-year-old Norwegian Maren Ueland and 24-year-old Dane Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, whose bodies were found Dec. 17. Khaim said three of those arrested had terror-related criminal records.
Ejjoud was believed to have carried out the murders along with 33-year-old Abderrahim Khayali, 27-year-old Younes Ouaziyad and 33-year-old Rachid Afatti. Investigators have said the four men shot a video the week before the murders in which they pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. However, Khiam told AFP the four had not had contact with ISIS leaders “in conflict zones, whether in Syria, Iraq or Libya.”
Rachid Afatti (left), Ouziad Younes (centre), alleged mastermind Ejjoud Abdessamad (right) and Abdelrahim el-Khayali (not pictured) allegedly camped out in the High Atlas Mountains two days before the murders. Picture: Morocco Police
Nine of the 18 men were arrested on Friday. Officials said they were heading to the area where the women were beheaded with the intent to commit a crime. According to Boubker Sabik, a spokesman for the Moroccan security and domestic intelligence services, investigators found electronic devices, knives, bomb-making materials and unauthorized rifles.
The killings have shocked Morocco, which has seen relatively few acts of terror compared to its North African and Middle Eastern neighbors. On Saturday, hundreds of people took part in a candlelit vigil outside the Norwegian and Danish embassies in the capital, Rabat.
The killings marked the first terrorist attack to hit Morocco since 2011, when a suicide bomber detonated in Marrakech and killed 16 people. More than 1,000 Moroccans have joined ISIS in recent years, and Moroccan authorities arrested 20 cells with terrorist affiliations between 2017 and 2018.
The killings have prompted concerns about the impact on Morocco’s tourist sector, which accounts for 10% of national income, as the kingdom’s relative security has been a major selling point.
Featured image: Danish Louisa Vesterager Jespersen (24), left, and Norwegian Maren Ueland (28). Ms Jespersen and Ms Ueland were found dead early on December 17 above the village of Imlil near Toubkal, North Africa’s highest peak and a popular hiking and trekking destination. (Source: Facebook) Source: foxnews.com
NordenBladet – The Danish Royal Court has released the programme for Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary’s official business visit to Rome, Italy from 6th November to 8th November. The tour will focus on solutions in health, climate change, water and energy, urbanisation and sustainable food production.
The headline for the Danish business promotion is “Italy – We Think Business” and will have the following sectoral traces: Healthcare, Urban & Cleantech, and Food & Beverages. The visit also aims at strengthening relations between Denmark and Italy and supporting the position of Danish companies in Italy.
For the first day of the visit, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary will be received by the Italian President Sergio Mattarella for lunch at the Palazzo del Quirinale presidential palace. Afterwards, the couple will visit the Terme Di Caracalla before attending the welcome reception with the Danish delegation.
On 7th November, the Crown Prince Couple will take part in an event marking the official beginning of the business visit. Crown Prince Frederik will make a speech. The Crown Prince Couple will then spend the morning apart. Crown Prince Frederik will open the seminar “Shaping the Future of Healthcare and Strategic Investments”, and he will also attend the seminars “Water: Efficiency and Revenue Streams” and “Catch up – the market is moving”. Crown Princess Mary will also attend three seminars: “Keynote: The Business of Denmark’s Green Transition”, “Ready for tomorrow’s consumers” and “The Transformation of Healthcare and Business Models of the Future”.
The couple will then meet again to attend a business launch with Danish companies. Afterwards, they will visit the panel debate “Outlook on the EU and the global industry agenda” and also participate in a cooking show with Danish and Italian chefs. They will have the opportunity to meet Danish companies in the food industry. The day will conclude with an official dinner.
On their last day in Rome, on 8th November, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary will be received in an audience by His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican. Crown Prince Frederik will then visit the Trevi Fountain and the aqueduct Acqua Vergine to focus on Urban & Cleantech. This official visit will conclude by a visit by the couple to the Hospital Bambino Gesu to meet some of the patients.
NordenBladet – On November 13th, Princess Marie will be the guest of honour at a dinner hosted by the Stop Wasting Food Movement. The international Stop Wasting Food Dinner will be hosted by Selina Juul and the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Denmark Henk Swarttouw and will focus on the fight against food waste. In addition to Princess Marie, guests will include the Danish Minister for Environment and Food Jakob Ellemann-Jensen and high-level leaders from organisations and businesses.
The hope is to make this dinner an annual tradition with a different embassy hosting each year, and the dinner’s primary focus is to give the inspiration to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 which is to halve the global food waste by 2030. The dinner will be a menu made out of surplus food and prepared by Dutch chef Lucas Jeffries – who works at the InStock restaurant which fights against food waste- and Danish chef Martin Jacobsen – who works at the Kadeau and the Nabo restaurants. The guests will have the opportunity to take the leftovers home in biodegradable boxes.
About hosting the dinner, Henk Swarttouw said: “During the last 10 years, the Danish consumers are starting to become aware of the gigantic food waste in Denmark, which annually reaches 700.000 tonnes. It’s also important to get all the decision makers onboard the agenda – and that is why we are hosting this dinner; to activate and inspire Denmark’s leading key stakeholders, who can anchor the agenda in their respective organisations and projects.“
Princess Marie has been focusing on the fight against food waste a lot in the past few years. This year alone, she helped launched new material focusing on food waste in schools, opened the first Too Good To Go store in Denmark, attended the World Food Summit of which she is the patron, visited the Danish Food Bank and hosted ten school children in her home to teach them about food waste.
About Princess Marie attending the dinner, Selina Juul – the founder of the Stop Wasting Food Movement and a member of the coalition fighting to achieve the UN goal – said: “We are very thankful that H.R.H. Princess Marie will participate in our dinner against food waste – and we are very delighted for the Princess’ enthusiasm in the fight against food waste. Earlier this year in Stop Wasting Food, we had honor and pleasure to prepare a lunch with focusing on food waste at the Princess’ own home together with the Princess, the Princess’ children, and ten school children.”
Featured image: Princess Marie (Screenshot DR1/ Fair Use)
NordenBladet — The Government seeks to strengthen Danish resilience against foreign attempts to influence our democracy and society. Uncovering influence campaigns, a high level of preparedness and a closer dialogue with media and political parties on how to manage the threat posed by influence campaigns; these are some of the elements from the Government’s new action plan.
Certain countries use influence campaigns targeting the domestic political environments in Western countries as a tool to reach their own foreign policy goals. In recent years, a number of examples of Russian attempts to influence elections and referendums in both Europe and the United States have been uncovered. According to the Danish Defence Intelligence Service, it is very likely that foreign states will also have the ability to conduct influence campaigns targeting Denmark, for instance relating to the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The Government takes this threat posed against Danish interests and democratic values very seriously. Therefore, the Government presents a plan with 11 initiatives aimed at strengthening Danish resilience against influence campaigns.
An influence campaign can for instance include attempts to spread untrue information and stories in the media or to create a distorted coverage of a topic in order to influence an important political decision. These kind of campaigns are often designed to create discord amongst the population and seek to undermine the trust in for instance elections or public institutions.
Minister of Justice Søren Pape Poulsen:
“With the risk of influence campaigns, we are facing a threat against our liberal democracy which we need to firmly address. We therefore now launch this action plan to ensure that our government authorities, democracy and media are better prepared if foreign countries attempt to influence important decisions of high significance to Denmark. Denmark’s security and safety is the top priority for me as Minister of Justice, and today we take another step to protect these particular values.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs Anders Samuelsen:
“It is basically a question of defending our liberty and democracy. Russian influence campaigns targeting elections in the United States and France show the importance of staying abreast of this development. That is why we act now. The Danish people must remain completely confident in our democracy. Many of our allies are in the same situation. It is important to me that we also draw on their experiences to ensure that we stand united and as strong as possible against the threat.”
Minister of Defence Claus Hjort Frederiksen:
“We have by now seen a number of examples of Kremlin attempts to influence democratic elections in the West with campaigns focusing on creating discord and disagreement in the population. They focus on existing political dilemmas or even seek to amplify points of views on both sides on a conflict – solely with the purpose of creating discord and undermine trust in in our political institutions, authorities and ultimately within the population itself. I am not particularly nervous for the polling itself or the counting of votes in this country because we have a robust system which is difficult to “hack” so to speak. However, we have seen how Russia has interfered with democratic elections in the United States and France. Which effect it has had, we can only imagine. But it must never happen in Denmark. The Government’s action plan is therefore an important element in strengthening our ability to counter influence operations against Denmark – including, but not limited to, the upcoming parliamentary election.”
The elections action plan consists of 11 initiatives, which concern the general work by public authorities to counter influence campaigns, secure the election itself, council the main actors of the election and initiate closer cooperation with relevant actors in the media and social media:
1. The Government has set up an inter-governmental task force, which has strengthened the authorities’ coordination and efforts in countering influence campaigns, including with regard to Danish elections. Drawing on experiences from abroad, a number of initiatives have been launched in order to increase capacities in the relevant authorities and to develop concrete countermeasures.
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a strengthened monitoring of disinformation in the media directed at Denmark and will – inspired by other Nordic countries – initiate training for communication officers from government authorities on the ongoing handling of disinformation.
3. The Danish Security Intelligence Service (DSIS) and the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS) strengthen their focus on hostile foreign actors targeting Denmark with influence campaigns, including with regard to the upcoming parliamentary elections.
4. The Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Interior will in cooperation with DSIS and DDIS/The Centre for Cyber Security (CFCS) ensure that the necessary threat and vulnerability assessments are conducted in relation to the election.
5. The Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Interior’s response with regard to the election will have an increased focus on threats posed by potential foreign influence. The work will be organised in close cooperation with the appointed inter-governmental task force, especially DSIS and DDIS/CFCS.
6. The Government will offer all political parties eligible to be elected to Parliament counselling on the risk of foreign influence in relation to the upcoming parliamentary elections, including cyber-attacks, and on the options for countering such influence and attacks. The counselling will be offered through the national security authorities (DSIS and DDIS/CFSC).
7. The Government will invite all political party leaders to a meeting to inform about the risk of foreign influence with regard to the upcoming parliamentary elections.
8. The Government will invite representatives from the media to a dialogue on possible models for cooperation on countering potential foreign attempts to influence the upcoming parliamentary elections. This will happen with full respect for the central principles of a free and independent press.
9. The Government will invite representatives from prevalent social media platforms to a dialogue on possible models for cooperation on countering potential foreign attempts to influence the upcoming parliamentary elections. This initiative will amongst other things be based on experiences from other countries.
10. The Government will invite media with public service obligations to a dialogue on models for cooperation on countering potential foreign attempts on influencing the upcoming parliamentary elections. One of the aims being to raise awareness about the threat amongst the population.
11. The Government will present a bill to ensure that the criminal code is up to date to protect Denmark against the threat from influence campaigns launched by foreign intelligence services.
Facts:
In its Intelligence Risk Assessment from 2017, Danish Defence Intelligence Service assesses that it is likely that Russian influence campaigns will pose an increased threat against Denmark. Denmark could with short notice or no notice at all be target of Russian influencing attempts. It is highly likely that Russia will be able to target and tailor influence campaigns against Denmark. Russian influence could for instance happen in relation to an election campaign or as a result of a broader Russian interest in influencing the state of affairs in the Baltic Sea Region to its own advantage. It is in this regard likely that Russia’s strengthened influence operations in for instance the Baltic states, Sweden and Finland also will lead to an increased focus on Denmark.
NordenBladet – Anders Samuelsen, Denmark’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenland’s Minister for Education, Culture, Church and Foreign Affairs, will host a high-level meeting on 22-23 May 2018 on the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of the Ilulissat Declaration. The purpose of the meeting is to affirm the support of the Arctic States to the principles of the declaration and to discuss the joint efforts for a peaceful and productive cooperation.
Anders Samuelsen says:
“With the Ilulissat Declaration from May 2008, the coastal States bordering the Arctic Ocean agreed to maintain the Arctic as a low-tension region, where disputes are resolved peacefully. It is in our clear interest to maintain this situation. In other parts of the world, the Arctic States are involved in critical conflicts on different sides. We can be very pleased that we managed to maintain the dialogue and the cooperation in the Arctic. We need stay on this path – and this is where the Ilulissat Declaration plays a key role.“
Vivian Motzfeldt says:
“I am honored to co-host this important event in Ilulissat. In the time of globalization and global uncertainty, it is important to re-affirm the core values of this exceptional region; peace and prosperity for our peoples. We take the responsibility for living up to these values in close cooperation – this is truly unique. I am therefore grateful that the indigenous peoples organizations and Arctic States are here to mark the core values of the Ilulissat Declaration.”
After a period of growing uncertainty about the future of the region, the Coastal States to the Arctic Ocean – the United States, the Russian Federation, Canada, Norway and the Kingdom of Denmark – agreed in the Ilulissat Declaration to resolve conflicts through dialogue and negotiations within the framework of international law. The five states also agreed to strengthen their cooperation in a range of areas, including economic development, scientific research, environmental protection and safety of navigation. The Ilulissat Declaration has thus been essential to the success of cooperation in the Arctic.
The high-level meeting will also focus on sustainable economic development. Participants are invited on a case study tour through Ilulissat Icefjord to Ilimanaq village. In Ilimanaq, local economic growth has been supported by building cabins, from which tourists can experience Greenland’s awe-inspiring nature. The village is an example of job creation through tourism, which both respects local culture and traditions and which generates revenue that is beneficial to investors and the local community.
Vivian Motzfeldt says:
“The key to a sustainable development in the Arctic is its people. Our core responsibility is thus to secure the prosperity of the inhabitants through innovation and sustainably using the environment that we are in. Due to the conditions we live in, our scarce human resources and infrastructural challenges the inhabitants in the Arctic cannot compete globally on many factors. Ilimanaq is a good example of using the local environment for economic development and show casing the unique local features of Greenland. We are committed to strengthening our economic cooperation within the Arctic region to support the development of successes like Ilimanaq.”
Anders Samuelsen says:
”Technological progress and climate change gives new opportunities for sailing the Arctic waters, for extracting natural resources and for economic development. We work to improve conditions for businesses so the new opportunities can benefit the citizens of the Arctic.”
Scientific research will also be highlighted at the meeting where a special session will focus on the prospects of the new Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation agreed under the auspices of the Arctic Council. The Kingdom of Denmark has acted as depositary for the agreement which enters into force on May 23, 2018.
In addition to the hosts, the meeting will have participation from ministers and representatives from the United States, the Russian Federation, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Arctic indigenous peoples.
NordenBladet — Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs will next year on behalf of Denmark host the world’s biggest anti-corruption conference, International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC18). The conference will take place in Bella Center 22-24 October 2018.
The conference will focus on anti-corruption in development cooperation and is arranged in cooperation with Transparency International and the International Anti-Corruption Conference Council.
“It is natural to have this conference in the least corrupt country in the world, and I am looking forward to welcome more than 1,000 participants to the Bella Center,” says Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs and continues:
“Corruption is a significant barrier for fostering development – it is a parasite that undermines the desires of countries to promote democracy, economic growth and stability. Fighting corruption is therefore a prerequisite for the realization of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.”
In addition to a series of workshops, side-events and plenary debates, IACC18 will feature a high level segment with participation of ministers from donor and developing countries as well as UN and the World Bank, a dialogue between parliamentarians and a private sector segment with multinational corporations.
“Because corruption affects so many aspects of our work, it is important that we involve a broad range of actors, e.g. governments and parliaments as well as private enterprises, civil society and the media. Next year’s conference will serve as a platform for this diverse group of stake holders to join forces in the global fight against corruption,” says Ulla Tørnæs.
For several consecutive years Denmark has been ranked as the least corrupt country in the world on Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index measuring perceived corruption in the public sector. The index is published annually based on a range of expert assessments by the World Bank, World Economic Forum and Economist Intelligence Unit and others. Denmark has been ranked at first place since 2012, the first couple of years and 2016 together with other countries and in 2014 and 2015 alone.
International Anti-Corruption Conference has a recurrent event been held since 1983 together with different host nations. The conference has attracted Heads of States, scientists, media and representatives from both civil society and the private sector.In relation to IACC18 Denmark is entering into a strategic partnership with Transparency International, which involves a doubling up of the annual core contribution in 2017 and expectedly also in 2018.
NordenBladet – On Saturday, 26 May, it will be 50 years since His Royal Highness The Crown Prince was born as the son of the then-successor to the throne, Princess Margrethe, and Prince Henrik. The 50th birthday will be celebrated with various events in May – from celebratory runs in Denmark’s five largest cities to the opening of a research centre at Aarhus University and a gala banquet at Christiansborg Palace.
On his birthday, The Crown Prince will come out on the balcony of Frederik VIII’s Palace at 12.00 together with Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess, their four children and Her Majesty The Queen. In the evening, Her Majesty will host a gala banquet at Christiansborg Palace for guests from Denmark and other countries.
The birthday events begin the week before on May 18 with jubilee award presentations by His Royal Highness’s own Crown Prince Frederik Foundation, followed by a dinner at Frederik VIII’s Palace. On Monday, 21 May, The Crown Prince puts on his running shoes along with other Danes to participate in the Royal Run, which takes place in the cities Aalborg, Aarhus, Esbjerg, Odense and Copenhagen/Frederiksberg.
The Royal Yacht Dannebrog will also play a role in the lead-up to The Crown Prince’s birthday. In addition to being the setting of a reception for The Crown Prince’s patronages on 22 May, the Dannebrog will sail the Crown Prince Couple to Aarhus, where the municipality will host a number of visits to companies and organizations on 23 May. Here, The Crown Prince will also open the new centre at Aarhus University, which will be named the Crown Prince Frederik Centre for Public Leadership.
At The Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Palace, the Crown Prince Couple on 24 May will take part in the unveiling of a new portrait of The Crown Prince as well as the opening of the exhibitions “HRH Crown Prince Frederik – Prince of Denmark” and “Ralph Heimans Portraits”. In extension of the events on the actual birthday, 26 May, the celebrations conclude on 27 May with the show “All of Denmark celebrates The Crown Prince” at Royal Arena, Copenhagen. The show will be attended by The Crown Prince and the royal family.
HRH The Crown Prince of Denmark – Frederik André Henrik Christian (Photo: Steen Evald)
