Download COPENHAGEN, DENMARK Hotel: Copenhagen Admiral Hotel

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
Hotel:
Copenhagen Admiral Hotel
Toldbodgade 24-28
1253 Copenhagen K
T: +45 3374 1414
F: +45 3374 1416
City coordinator:
Kristina Treschow
[email protected]
Background: The smallest and most Southern of the Scandinavian countries, Denmark offers an interesting mix of lively
cities and rural countryside. Danish Vikings once ravaged half of Europe, but these days they've filed down their horns
and forged a thoroughly modern society that combines Danish hygge (cosy and smug) and a liberal social-welfare system
with a sense of cutting-edge style, design and technology. Prominent Danes include artists such as Lars von Trier, Karen
Blixen, Soren Kierkegaard, and Hans Christian Andersen. LEGO was invented in Denmark.
When we talk about Denmark, we normally refer to Jutland, Zealand, Funen and the islands scattered in the Danish
waters. But the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic and Greenland, which is part of the North American continent, also
belong to Denmark. Greenland and the Faroe Islands both have home rule, a scheme which leaves most of the important
decision-making - except foreign policy - to the local parliaments.
Denmark has 5.4 million inhabitants, of which 5% have foreign nationality.
Political Structure: Denmark is the oldest monarchy in Europe. Since the first democratic constitution was installed in
1849, the political role of the monarch has been gradually reduced. Today, the monarch (Queen Margrethe II) remains
formal head of state but executive power is exercised solely through the cabinet ministers, with the prime minister acting
as the first among equals. Legislative power is vested in the Parliament, known as the Folketing. The 179 members all
stand for election (at least) every four years. All citizens over 18 have the right to vote. Judiciary power rests with the
court.
The political system is a multi-party structure with several parties represented in the Parliament. Since 1909 no single
party has held a majority of parliamentary seats. Danish politics are thus characterised by inter-party bargaining and
compromises. Typically, Danish governments are minority administrations, governing with the aid of one or more
supporting parties. The latest national election was held on February 8th 2005. The current cabinet is composed of a twoparty coalition of the Liberal Party and the Conservative People’s Party. They rely on the nationalistic Danish Peoples
Party to form a majority in Parliament.
Policy issues: The domestic policy agenda is dominated by debate on the future outlook of the welfare state, reforms of
the tax system, and whether or not the economy is in risk of ‘overheating’. Though criticized internationally and by parts
of the opposition, the strict Danish immigration policy remain popular and a fixed part of the current Government’s
agenda. Foreign policy debate revolves around Denmark’s position as a long-standing member of the EU with
increasingly closer ties to the USA. Denmark contributed - from the outset – to the invasion of Iraq. The Danish troops
were, however, withdrawn in August 2007. In early 2006, the publishing of 12 caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed in
the Danish Newspaper, Jyllandsposten, sparked the biggest foreign policy crisis for the nation since World War II. Large
scale protests erupted in several Muslim countries and included the burning of Danish flags and Embassies as well as a
major boycott of Danish produce. Both Government and business communities are still working to mend the wounds.
Economy: Denmark’s economy is highly dependent on trade with other countries. Since the mid-1990s, the economy has
been characterised by a long-lasting upturn. High GDP per capita, welfare benefits, political stability and low inequality
allows the Danish people to enjoy living standards topped by no other nation. Denmark is approaching full employment
and the demographic trends signal that a major long-term issue will be the decline in the ratio of workers to retirees. The
Danish labour market model has attracted considerable international attention in recent years. The model is referred to as
the ‘flexicurity model’. It supports a flexible labour market while at the same time maintaining a finemeshed social safety
net in the case of unemployment, combined with initiatives to get more unemployed people back to work.
Foreign Trade: Foreign trade accounts for 2/3 of the gross domestic product (GDP). Agricultural products used to
dominate, but industrial products now make up the majority of Danish exports. Biotechnology and renewable energy are
small yet strategically important industries for Denmark. The biggest trading partners are Germany, Sweden, US, UK and
the Netherlands.
Sources: Lonely Planet, Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Denmark.dk - the official window
Wednesday, October 10
5:00 PM
Dress: casual
MEET KRISTINA TRESCHOW IN THE HOTEL LOBBY FOR PROGRAM BRIEFING
6:30 PM
INTEGRATION IN DENMARK – DINNER AND DISCUSSION WITH
•
Rushy Rashid, Journalist and writer, GMF fellow
2nd
Ms. Rushy Rashid is a
generation immigrant with a Pakistani background. She is a well-known writer and debater and since 2005
Rushy has been elected as counsellor of the Municipal Committee of Hvidovre.
•
Nagieb Khaja, Journalist, GMF fellowship in process (2008)
Nagieb Khaja, journalist. Nagieb is nominated to a GMF fellowship and will travel to the USA next year. Nagieb is active in civic
involvement and works as a coach and social worker in an ethnic Turkish Football Club.
•
Erik Thorsted, Director, “Night Owls”
Erik Thorsted, leader of the “Night Owls”, a voluntary organisation for ordinary grown-up people who will spend time and effort in
making the town a safer and better place. For further information www.natteravnenen.dk
Erik Thorsted from the “Night Owls” has invited to dinner
Address: Natteravnene, Pasteursvej 2, (near Carlsberg), Copenhagen. T: 2020 7077
Thursday, October 11
10:30 AM
Dress: Business
THE DANISH WELFARE SOCIETY
Senior Researcher Jon Kist, The Danish National Institute of Social Research,
Address: SFI, Herluf Trolls Gade 11, Copenhagen. T: 3348 0800, www. Sfi.dk
12:15 PM
LUNCH MEETING WITH YOUNG DANISH POLITICIANS AND MP’S
The participants are all GMF-fellows:
Kirsten Brosbøl and Jeppe Kofod from The Social Democrats
Jens Hald Madsen from The Liberal Party
Peter Skaarup from the Danish People’s Party
For further information please see website:www.ft.dk
Moderator: Gitte Lillelund Beck, GMF fellow, MP - Liberal Party, Chairman of the
Foreign Affairs’ Committee of the Danish Parliament
GMF will host the lunch served during the meeting which takes place in the Parliament’s Restaurant
“Snapstinget”,
Address: Folketinget, Christiansborg Slot, Copenhagen T: 3337 5660
3:00 PM
DANISH DEFENCE POLICY: MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF DEFENCE, SOREN GADE, MP, THE
LIBERAL PARTY
Address: Ministry of Defence, Holmens Kanal 42, 1060 Copenhagen K 3395 5520
4:15 PM
FREEDOM OF SPEECH AFTER THE MUHAMMAD CRISIS ??
Meet Martin Krasnik, Political Editor at Weekendavisen, GMF fellow
Address: Weekendavisen, Pilestræde 34, 1146 Copenhagen K, T: to follow
7:00 PM
CASUAL
DINNER AT CHARLOTTE FISCHER’S HOME
Charlotte Fischer is Member of Parliament for the Social Liberal Party where she is the
Spokesperson for Health Care, Housing and Higher Education.
Address: Classensgade 19B. 2nd floor, Copenhagen, T-home: 3295 4156
Friday, October 12
10:00 AM
Dress: Business
VISIT TO THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
Meeting with Michael Ulvemann, GMF-fellow, The Spokesperson for the Danish Prime
Minister and Michael Helboe, GMF-fellow, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister. They will
give an introduction to Danish Politics.
Michael Starbaek Christensen, GMF-fellow, Deputy, Climate Secretariat, will talk about the
Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009
Address: Christiansborg Slot, Prins Jørgens Gaard 11, 1218 Copenhagen K.
12:15 PM
VIEWS ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENERGY MARKETS – LUNCH MEETING AT THE CONFEDERATION
OF DANISH INDUSTRIES
Anders Stouge, Director, Danish Energy Industries Federation will give the introduction and
during lunch you will have the opportunity to meet and discuss with employees of DI.
Address: DI, H.C, Andersens Blvd., DK-1787 København V ,Tel.: 3377 3071
3:00 PM
VISIT TO THE ROYAL DANISH MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Briefing and discussion on Danish Foreign Policy and Danish Development Aid Policy spanning from Cartoons to Climate Change.
Host: Martin Bille Hermann, Deputy Head of Department, Department for Development Policy,
GMF-fellow
Address: Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asiatisk Plads 2, Copenhagen, T: 3392 0000.
www.um.dk
EVENING
WALK THROUGH COPENHAGEN WHERE THE “OPEN CULTURE NIGHT” TAKES PLACE
Program to be decided on - but inspiration can be found at: www.kulturnatten.dk - and you can
click on the English version of the programme.
Michael Starbaek Christensen, GMF-fellow, The Prime Ministers’ Office will join you.
Saturday, October 13
MORNING
CASUAL
FREE TIME FOR SHOPPING AND SIGHTSEEING
2:00 PM
…WHY DON’T WE HAVE SKYCRAPERS IN THE CITY OF COPENHAGEN ?
Introduction to city planning and architecture in Copenhagen. Meeting with City Architect Jan
Christensen, City of Copenhagen.
The introduction will be followed by a tour to the most prominent and interesting areas.
EVENING
DINNER IN TOWN
Kirsten Brosbøl, MP, Social Democrat, GMF-fellow and some of her friends will join you.
Sunday, October 14
10:00 AM
CASUAL
…AND WHAT ABOUT DANISH CULTURE ?
Among others you will visit Louisiana– a modern art Museum
Programme by Katrine Nielsen, GMF-fellow and Cultural Editor at Politiken, one of the leading,
Danish newspapers. Further programme to follow.
FREE EVENING
Monday, October 15
DEPARTURES