Today in Denmark: A roundup of the news on Wednesday
Growing support for a new Danish 'nature law,' the EU recycling shakeup, and an update on government negotiations are among the top news stories in Denmark on Wednesday.
Blue parties throw support behind Danish 'nature law' initiative
Protected nature areas make up just 2.3 percent of Denmark's territory, according to a new report from the Danish Biodiversity Council. Two conservative 'blue bloc' parties — the Conservatives and Liberal Alliance — tell newspaper Politiken they'd support a new law to increase that underwhelming percentage.
During the election campaign, four left-of-centre 'red bloc' parties — the Socialist People's Party, the Social Liberals (Radikale Venstre), the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten), and Alternative — suggested the Danish Biodiversity Council draft a bill to bring Denmark in line with a European Union target of 30 percent protected nature with 10 percent strict protections, newswire Ritzau writes.
Of the entire European Union, Denmark devotes the second-highest proportion of its territory to agriculture, making carveouts for nature more challenging.
READ MORE: Here are Denmark's 15 most beautiful natural areas
Danish Waste Association: EU commission's recycling initiatives would give Denmark a boost
A leaked draft from the EU Commission reveals plans to require a certain percentage of post-consumer plastic in new packaging, Ritzau reports. The Danish Waste Association, which represents municipal and private waste companies, say the policy changes would represent an important step toward a true "circular economy" of plastic.
"We can collect as much packaging waste as citizens have sorted," says Danish Waste Association Niels Toftegaard. "But if the supermarkets and packaging manufacturers don't want to use it in new packaging, or invest in the necessary technology to turn old package into new, we will never get a circular economy."
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Danish Industry (Dansk Industri), an association representing the interests of Danish businesses and employers, says it expects companies will struggle to find enough high-quality recycled plastic in Denmark and Europe.
The full EU Commission proposal is expected to be presented November 30th.
READ MORE: Denmark throws away too much plastic, recycling could save millions: report
Poulsen: no movement on 'broad government' negotiations
Søren Pape Poulsen, leader of the Conservative party, says Denmark is "neither further from nor closer to a government" across the centre aisle after the party's most recent negotiation with Mette Frederiksen and the Social Democrats.
"Everyone knows that labour market reforms are needed, but so much else is needed. And what should it look like? We all know that health reform is needed, education reforms are needed, and more free choice is needed," Poulsen told Ritzau.
"You can't just sit and design that in an hour and a half, and so of course we talk about what those principles are. And wherever we end up" — referring to whether the Conservatives join the government — "we want to help influence that process," he said.
READ MORE: What do Danish Liberals want from government negotiations?
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Blue parties throw support behind Danish 'nature law' initiative
Protected nature areas make up just 2.3 percent of Denmark's territory, according to a new report from the Danish Biodiversity Council. Two conservative 'blue bloc' parties — the Conservatives and Liberal Alliance — tell newspaper Politiken they'd support a new law to increase that underwhelming percentage.
During the election campaign, four left-of-centre 'red bloc' parties — the Socialist People's Party, the Social Liberals (Radikale Venstre), the Red-Green Alliance (Enhedslisten), and Alternative — suggested the Danish Biodiversity Council draft a bill to bring Denmark in line with a European Union target of 30 percent protected nature with 10 percent strict protections, newswire Ritzau writes.
Of the entire European Union, Denmark devotes the second-highest proportion of its territory to agriculture, making carveouts for nature more challenging.
READ MORE: Here are Denmark's 15 most beautiful natural areas
Danish Waste Association: EU commission's recycling initiatives would give Denmark a boost
A leaked draft from the EU Commission reveals plans to require a certain percentage of post-consumer plastic in new packaging, Ritzau reports. The Danish Waste Association, which represents municipal and private waste companies, say the policy changes would represent an important step toward a true "circular economy" of plastic.
"We can collect as much packaging waste as citizens have sorted," says Danish Waste Association Niels Toftegaard. "But if the supermarkets and packaging manufacturers don't want to use it in new packaging, or invest in the necessary technology to turn old package into new, we will never get a circular economy."
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Danish Industry (Dansk Industri), an association representing the interests of Danish businesses and employers, says it expects companies will struggle to find enough high-quality recycled plastic in Denmark and Europe.
The full EU Commission proposal is expected to be presented November 30th.
READ MORE: Denmark throws away too much plastic, recycling could save millions: report
Poulsen: no movement on 'broad government' negotiations
Søren Pape Poulsen, leader of the Conservative party, says Denmark is "neither further from nor closer to a government" across the centre aisle after the party's most recent negotiation with Mette Frederiksen and the Social Democrats.
"Everyone knows that labour market reforms are needed, but so much else is needed. And what should it look like? We all know that health reform is needed, education reforms are needed, and more free choice is needed," Poulsen told Ritzau.
"You can't just sit and design that in an hour and a half, and so of course we talk about what those principles are. And wherever we end up" — referring to whether the Conservatives join the government — "we want to help influence that process," he said.
READ MORE: What do Danish Liberals want from government negotiations?
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