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Danish government releases 2017 budget
TheCopenhagenPost
November 18th, 2016
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Blue bloc reaches uneasy agreement
Finance minister Claus Hjort Frederiksen has struck a deal for the 2017 budget (photo: Johannes Jansson)
Denmark’s ruling party Venstre has reached agreement with its political allies on the Danish budget for 2017.
Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen secured support for his economic policies throughout 2017, aiming to hold the public deficit around 1.8 percent of the GDP, less than the European Union’s ceiling of 3 percent.
“The budget strengthens welfare and makes Denmark a safer country, while it remains within a responsible, economical framework,” said Claus Hjort Frederiksen, the finance minister, after sealing the deal with Dansk Folkeparti, Liberal Alliance and Konservative.
READ MORE: Danish PM must overcome blue bloc deadlock to proceed with budget plans
Funding for the elderly
The lion’s share of the billions in the budget have yet to be allocated, but highlights included in the package include 3.4 billion kroner for the elderly; two billion to be spent by 2020 in addition to the billion kroner which municipalities will receive annually. Of this, 380 million kroner each year will go to a voucher system that older residents can take part in choosing what they want to spend on. In 2017, municipalities will also be able to take advantage of a 450 million kroner fund for better food for the elderly. Money has also been set aside to improve housing conditions for older residents.
Cancer and policing
The finance bill will add about 2.2 billion kroner for the fight against cancer between 2017-2020. Over a billion kroner will go toward better policing in Denmark, with funds going to things like cadet training, the additional costs of maintaining a police presence at temporary border controls and combating youth crime.
Property taxes …
There will also be a freeze on property taxes at a price of 620 million kroner and a lowered registration fee for some cars in Denmark
… and immigration
Some of the most hotly debated elements in the new finance law are those that will result in a tightening of immigration policy, including the ability to reject asylum seekers at the border if there is a crisis situation that the government deems puts Danish borders under pressure and tougher laws in general for staying in Denmark.
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