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In order to better handle ‘complex and severe weather events’, in 2025 and 2026 more uniformed personnel must be employed and investment in specialized climate equipment must be made.
It is among the main points in a new preparedness agreement that Minister for Social Security and Preparedness Torsten Schack Pedersen (V) has entered into with the parties behind the defense agreement in the Folketing on Wednesday.
The agreement allocates a total of DKK 608 million in 2025 and 2026. In addition, DKK 183 million is allocated annually up to and including 2033.
“We are addressing the most urgent needs”, says Torsten Schack about the new agreement at a press conference.
He believes that Denmark basically has ‘good preparedness’.
“But we must also state that the threat picture that exists – it is in motion, so we must be able to raise our preparedness. It makes demands on us, and we deliver on that here.’
“Danes can basically feel safe, but it’s an uncertain world, and you have to deal with the reality that exists”, says the minister.
It is not clear how many new employees will be employed in the Emergency Management Agency. But DKK 145 million has been set aside for more uniformed personnel and the improvement of acute challenges in the agency’s buildings and facilities.
When it comes to more conscripts in the emergency area, however, numbers are added. From 2027, a further 50 conscripts will be added to increase the operational capacity to, among other things, assist municipal rescue services.
The agreement also does not state which specialized air-conditioning equipment is to be invested in. A plan for material procurement must be drawn up between the National Emergency Management Agency and the municipal emergency services.
The contingency agreement was promised before the New Year, but was postponed shortly before Christmas after a negotiation process characterized by uncertainty and criticism from rapporteurs.
Among other things, several rapporteurs and Danske Beredskaber have criticized the minister for the fact that the municipal emergency services will receive additional money in the agreement.
Instead, it will be up to the Ministry of Finance and the National Association of Municipalities, KL, when the municipalities’ finances are to be negotiated in the spring.
The contingency agreement is part of the large defense settlement, to which a number of sub-agreements belong.
However, since the conclusion of the defense agreement, the emergency response has been moved to a new minister, when Torsten Schack became emergency response minister in August. The contingency agreement is the first major agreement in the new ministry.
However, a number of rapporteurs believe that this is just a ‘small agreement’ and a ‘step on the way’, according to the press conference where the agreement is presented.
The agreement also states that a number of areas must be looked at at a later date.
This applies, for example, to the ability to protect the civilian population during war, crises or disasters. Here, an analysis must be initiated in the spring.
A strategy for cyber and information security must also not be adopted until later in 2025. During the year, a commission for community security and preparedness must also be established.
All parties in the Folketing are included in the contingency agreement – with the exception of Enhedslisten and Alternativet, which are outside the defense agreement.
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Source: politiken.dk
