Call to strengthen welfare in times of crisis

Martin Damm, the chairman of the Danish Municipalities Association, urged the government to continue to strengthen welfare despite the upcoming billions needed for defense. In his speech at the Municipal Politics Summit, he emphasized the importance of Denmark’s social model that allows most citizens to work and contribute to the economy. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, participating in an EU summit in Brussels, addressed the challenging security situation and the high costs of bolstering military and democratic resilience. She emphasized the collective responsibility to maintain welfare in the coming years. Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called for a new long-term economic plan, focusing on workforce, reforms, productivity, and the potential of AI. Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen highlighted the need to prioritize defense spending, which may impact other budget areas. Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen expects a reasonable economic agreement and a balance between defense, security, and welfare.