Denmark at the bottom of EU emergency spending list

Denmark registers the lowest percentage of its GDP spent on emergency preparedness among EU countries, allocating only 0.077%, reports magazine Momentum. In contrast, nations like Sweden, Germany, France, Finland, the Netherlands, and Norway spend a larger share of their GDP on such efforts. Despite the low spending, Jarl Vagn Hansen, head of Danish Emergency Management, highlights the extreme cost-effectiveness of Denmark’s emergency services. However, he acknowledges the pressure on the system and the need for modernization. Following heightened security concerns after the Ukraine conflict and climate change, a new ministry for societal safety and preparedness was established in August, with Torsten Schack Pedersen appointed as the minister. He is leading negotiations for a new emergency agreement to prepare for future challenges and maintains that Denmark’s current emergency readiness is robust and tailored to national conditions. According to Momentum’s analysis, based on population, Denmark ranks better in emergency spending, placed tenth from the bottom.