DENMARK

The UN Sustainable Development Goals can create economic development in the Arctic

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Today the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs and his Greenlandic colleague Suka K. Frederiksen is hosting an international high-level conference at Eigtveds Pakhus.With the SDGs as the starting point the conference will focus on economic development in the Arctic region. The conference is a part of the implementation of the Danish government’s Foreign and Security Policy Strategy 2017-18 and will be opened by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Denmark.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Anders Samuelsen says: “The Arctic is a region of change, and new opportunities are emerging. It is the government’s aim to focus on attracting more investments to the Arctic, including to Greenland, so that the populations can experience economic development in a sustainable manner. With the conference today we, together with Greenland, want to send a strong signal that there is a need for an increased economic focus in the Arctic cooperation.”

Further, Mr. Samuelsen adds: “I look forward to hearing the participants’ ideas as to how the UN Sustainable Development Goals can work as a catalyst for economic development in the Arctic. I expect that we will get some good suggestions as to how Greenland and other parts of the Arctic can take advantage of the new opportunities – while still taking care of the fragile environment. ”

The conference is organized by Denmark, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and the Arctic Economic Council and will have participation from all Arctic states. The main goal of the conference is to bring together the Arctic business community, international players, the UN and the EU to discuss how the SDGs can contribute to putting sustainable development of the Arctic region on the agenda. The SDGs were unanimously adopted in 2015 by all 193 UN member states. They consist of 17 goals that apply to all countries and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental aspects. While the challenges that the Arctic peoples face span across all three dimensions, creating sustainable economic growth through e.g. increased employment, innovation, infrastructure projects, export and tourism is the primary challenge.

The conference “Sustainable Development Goals in the Arctic – Local and Global Perspectives” will take place in Eigtveds Pakhus with more than 250 participants including CEO of UN Global Compact, Lise Kingo, CEO of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, Sturla Henriksen, as well as special Arctic representatives from Canada, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Japan.

Source: um.dk

Denmark supports new tech-initiative for humanitarian action

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Danish government donates DKK 2.5 million to the Danish Refugee Council in order for them to develop a new innovative model together with IBM. The model will be able to track and potentially also predict refugee and migrant flows, which will improve humanitarian response planning. The project taps into the government’s focus on technology and digitalization and the new TechPlomacy-initiative as a strategic priority in Denmark’s international engagement.

Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs:“I am pleased that we are able strengthen humanitarian action through innovative technology. The data model will hopefully serve as a concrete example of how innovative technology can ensure better information and contribute to a more proactive humanitarian response. There is no doubt that TechVelopment has a huge potential within development cooperation.”

The grant will enable the Danish Refugee Council to develop and test a new data model together with IBM. Danish Refugee Council will open source the solution and thereby assist humanitarian actors in developing a more proactive humanitarian response based on the model’s predictions.The project taps into the government’s focus on technology and digitalization and the new TechPlomacy-initiative as a strategic priority in Denmark’s international engagement across foreign and security policy, development cooperation, and humanitarian assistance.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Anders Samuelsen:“The project is a great example of an initiative that seeks to address some of the global challenges in a new and innovative way. The pace of technology development creates new challenges and risks but at the same time new opportunities. Denmark and Danish organizations are in a good position to seize these opportunities. The project also taps into our focus on technology and digitalization, which we have made a priority in Denmark’s international engagement since the launch of the TechPlomacy-initiative. Denmark has taken the lead by appointing the world’s first tech-ambassador and we are thereby able to be agenda setting within this field.”

BackgroundThe Danish Refugee Council and IBM have engaged in a partnership in order to co-create and test a new tech-driven analysis model under the project “Predictive Modeling of Migration Flows”. The model has the potential to predict refugee and migrant flows and thereby ensure a better humanitarian response. IBM contributes with its predictive analytics technology on a pro bono basis. The project runs until mid-2019.

Source: um.dk
Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet

 

Samuelsen New Neighbourhood Programme

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anders Samuelsen, has approved a new five year Neighbourhood Programme for Ukraine and Georgia. The Neighbourhood Programme supports Denmark’s foreign policy priority of a peaceful and stable Europe. The programme will focus on key areas of the countries’ reform processes, including in particular democracy, human rights and sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Ukraine and Georgia are facing serious challenges, including from the territorial threat from Russia. Both countries are committed to increased European integration and are undergoing ambitious and difficult reform processes.

Anders Samuelsen says:”It is in the interest of Denmark and Europe that Ukraine and Georgia continue the European course that they have chosen. It is essentially about stability and security in Europe. The countries’ comprehensive reform programs are a precondition for the development of modern and well-functioning societies. They represent the best possible answer to the aggression from Russia – and are essential for the wish to continue on the path of European integration. For this reason, it is important that we continue to support their reform agendas. The Danish assistance will facilitate important steps in the right direction. This is why I have approved a new Neighbourhood programme amounting to DKK 860 million.”

The new Neighbourhood Programme builds on experiences and results from previous engagements in the region and contains a number of areas with specific Danish strengths and capabilities. This includes for instance the energy sector, where the Danish Energy Agency will engage in a government-to-government cooperation with Ukraine. It also includes the fight against corruption where Denmark will work to strengthen the capacity in Ukrainian institutions to prevent and combat corruption.

Ukraine and Georgia have entered into deep and comprehensive free trade agreements with the EU that hold substantial potential for the countries’ private sectors but also necessitate difficult transitions. The Danish programme offers technical assistance and support to small and medium sized companies to enable them to live up to applied requirements and thus fully benefit from the trade agreements with the EU.

The Neighbourhood programme also includes support to both Ukrainian and Georgian civil society organisations, which play an essential role in keeping the governments on the reform track and in securing transparency and accountability.

Source: um.dk
Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet

 

Crown Princess Mary’s royal future was predicted by a fortune teller

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, was told she’d become a royal by a tarot card reader. The 45-year-old royal – who is married to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark – has told the story of how a walk through a local flea market in her home country of Australia saw her meet a fortune teller who told her to expect great things from her future.

Crown Princess Mary insists the clairvoyant told her she would leave her workplace and meet a man from abroad, before becoming famous and moving to Europe.
Speaking to Jens Andersen for his new authorised biography on Crown Prince Frederik, ‘Under the Bar’, Mary said: “So I left there and thought, ‘Well yes, that was a lot of fun, but nothing more.’ But I’ve always been interested in the spiritual. In mystery and fate.”

Soon after her encounter with the fortune teller, Crown Princess Mary met her future husband in a bar in Sydney during the 2000 Olympic games, and she insists she had no idea he was royalty until further down the line.

She recalled: “The first time we met, we shook hands. I didn’t know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later, someone came up to me and said, ‘Do you know who these people are?'”

The couple’s relationship blossomed from there, and they married in 2004 before having four children, Prince Christian, 12, Princess Isabella, 10, and six-year-old twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.

Meanwhile, Crown Prince Frederik admits he also believes in fate, but doesn’t think people can predict the future. He said: “I believe in fate. When I look back on all the exciting things that have happened to me, it’s not random. But I don’t try to look ahead and say, ‘Can I predict my destiny for the next two years?’ I don’t want to talk to anyone who claims they can. No one should read anything about me and my future.”

 

 

Denmark and Georgia mark 25 years of diplomatic relations

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — On the occasion of 25 years of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Georgia, the two countries have issued a joint declaration which underlines the good relations and commitment to continued close cooperation.

Georgia is a prioritised country within the Danish Neighbourhood Programme, and is expected to receive 42.5 million EURO in development aid over the next 5 years. Georgia is also an important partner for NATO and the EU. Future development cooperation between Denmark and Georgia will focus on promoting democracy and human rights and strengthening sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

Source: um.dk
Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet

 

Denmark names first ever tech ambassador

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Earlier this year, the Danish Foreign Minister announced that Denmark would appoint an ambassador for technology and digitization (‘tech ambassador’), the very first of its kind. The tech ambassador is going to lead a new Danish foreign policy initiative, ‘tech diplomacy’ (or #TechPlomacy). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs now names Denmark’s current ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Casper Klynge, as tech ambassador.

Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen says: “I am happy that we have today named a tech ambassador with the right profile. It is crucial that Denmark positions itself ambitiously in the exponential tech development taking place these years. Technology and digitization is global in its essence, and it has profound impact on all aspects of our society. The tech ambassador will spearhead our efforts to establish a more comprehensive dialogue with a broad spectrum of tech actors – companies, research institutions, countries, cities and organizations. Both in order to plug-in and get a better understanding of the development internationally, and to promote Danish interests and values on this important agenda. We have experienced great interest in this new Danish initiative, also from the tech environment. The perspectives are very promising.”The tech ambassador will be based in Silicon Valley, California, but will have a global mandate to promote the tech agenda internationally and is therefore expected to frequently visit global tech hubs as well as engage actively with stakeholders in Denmark.

Background: Mr. Casper Klynge has broad international experience from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international organizations. He has worked with both foreign and security policy, development cooperation, export promotion as well as a range of sector policies in cooperation with a broad range of ministries, authorities and the private sector. He has been actively engaged on the tech and digitization agenda and has also been writing on the subject. Casper Klynge officially takes up the tech ambassador task after the summer. He will be supported by a staffed setup in Silicon Valley and a secretariat in the Foreign Ministry in Copenhagen.

Source: um.dk
Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet

 

Broad political support for deployment of Danish soldiers to Estonia in 2018

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet — Today, a broad majority in the Danish parliament supported the Government’s proposal to deploy about 200 Danish soldiers to NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence in the Baltic States and Poland in 2018. The soldiers will be stationed for 12 months as part of the British Battalion in Estonia. 

”I am pleased that we once again support the security of the Baltic States and our region in general. The Danish contribution to NATO’s enhanced forward presence sends a clear signal to the international community that Denmark is honouring our international obligations in NATO. It also sends a clear signal of solidarity with our Allies in NATO, and that Denmark will actively contribute to the safety and security of the Alliance,” says the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anders Samuelsen. The Danish contribution, which will be deployed to Estonia, will be part of a comprehensive NATO strategy adopted at the NATO summit in July last year. In light of the changed security situation in Europe caused by Russia’s illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, the Allies in NATO have decided to strengthen the deterrence and defence profile of the Alliance.

“I am delighted by the broad support in the parliament today”, says the Minister for Foreign Affairs Anders Samuelsen and is supported by the Minister of Defence, Claus Hjort Frederiksen:  “The broad support in the Parliament underlines the gratitude to the Danish soldiers deployed to Estonia on an important mission for NATO, for the Baltic States, and for Denmark. We can all be proud of this.” The British-led battalion arrived in Estonia in April this year. “It was overwhelming for me to be part of the opening ceremony of the battlegroup in Estonia. It is clear to me that the Baltic countries and Poland are now starting to have faith in a safe and secure future”, says the Minister for Defense.  ”With 200 soldiers deployed to the enhanced Forward Presence, four F-16 fighters conducting Baltic Air Policing, and our contribution to NATO’s assurance measures, Denmark makes a significant contribution to our Allies’ security in the Baltic States and Poland in 2018. This shows that the Danish defence has great value to Denmark”, says Claus Hjort Frederiksen. Background:NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence consists of a multinational battalion in each of the Baltic States and Poland, and is led by a framework nation. In Estonia, United Kingdom is the framework nation for a multinational battalion of around 1000 soldiers. Until the turn of the year, France contributes with up to 300 soldiers and will then be replaced by the Danish contribution. Since April 2017, Denmark has deployed three staff officers to Estonian and British headquarters in Estonia.

 

Source: um.dk
Find us also on Twitter: @NordenBladet

 

Princess Marie of Denmark was initially reluctant to marry Prince Joachim

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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OHMYGOSSIP — Princess Marie of Denmark has admitted she was initially reluctant to marry Prince Joachim because she wasn’t sure if she wanted to give up her independence.

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