Emergency response agreement allocates millions, but several points still need attention

In order to better handle "complex and severe weather events", more uniformed personnel must be employed in 2025 and 2026 and specialized climate equipment must be invested in.

These are among the main points of a new emergency preparedness agreement that Minister of Public Safety and Emergency 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 608 million. DKK in 2025 and 2026. 183 million is allocated for this. DKK annually until 2033.

- We are addressing the most acute needs, says Torsten Schack about the new agreement at a press conference.

He believes that Denmark fundamentally has "good preparedness".

- But we must also note that the threat picture that exists - it is changing, so we must be able to improve our preparedness. This places demands on us, and we deliver on that here. Danes can basically feel safe, but it is an uncertain world, and we must deal with the reality that exists, says the minister.

It is not clear how many new employees will be hired in the Emergency Management Agency. But 145 million DKK has been allocated 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 management area, figures are being put forward. From 2027, an additional 50 conscripts will be added to increase the operational capacity to, among other things, assist municipal rescue services.

Plan for material procurement must be drawn up

The agreement also does not specify which specialized climate equipment to invest in. A plan for material procurement must be drawn up between the Emergency Management Agency and the municipal emergency services.

The emergency 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 the Danish Emergency Services have criticized the minister for the fact that municipal emergency services will receive additional money in the agreement.

It will instead be up to the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Association of Local Authorities, KL, when the municipalities' finances are to be negotiated in the spring.

The emergency services agreement is part of the large defense settlement, which a number of sub-agreements fall under. However, since the defense settlement was concluded, emergency services have been moved to a new minister, when Torsten Schack became Minister of Emergency Services in August. The emergency services agreement is the first major agreement in the new ministry.

Agreements for cybersecurity and marine environmental emergency services are missing

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 will be looked at at a later date.

This applies, for example, to the ability to protect the civilian population during war, crises or disasters. An analysis will be launched in the spring.

A strategy for cyber and information security will also not be adopted until later in 2025. A commission for public safety and preparedness will also be established during the year.

An agreement for marine environmental preparedness that meets the legislation and international obligations is also still missing. Marine environmental preparedness has previously received criticism from the State Auditors, but the establishment of these conditions is still pending.

All parties in the Folketing are part of the preparedness agreement - with the exception of the Unity List and the Alternative, which are outside the defense agreement.

/ritzau/