Denmark News Recap for Thursday
The Fehmarn Belt Tunnel, a 18-kilometer underwater tunnel connecting Denmark and Germany, is progressing well and is expected to open by mid-2029. The tunnel, designed to support both road and rail traffic, is being built by Danish state-owned Femern [1][3]. However, delays have been reported in the rail connection on the German mainland side, linking Fehmarn to the German mainland rail network.
Deutsche Bahn (DB) is responsible for constructing the German railway link, which is approximately 88 km between Puttgarden (Fehmarn) and Lübeck. The construction has only recently started, and the delay is attributed to the construction of a 2.2-kilometer railway tunnel on the German side, which will take DB six and a half years to complete [2][4][5]. As a result, the rail service will face a delay, with the German rail link not expected to be completed until approximately 2032.
Despite the delay, road traffic will still be possible from the start, with the existing Fehmarn Sound Bridge staying open for most transport except rail during rail construction [4][5]. This means that trains will not be able to run immediately across the entire route between Denmark and Germany until the German rail link is finished three years later.
Meanwhile, Denmark has been experiencing heavy downpours, leading to the issuance of red and dangerous rain alerts by the meteorological agency DMI. DMI's meteorologist and consultant Brüna Kilic stated that dangerous weather in this context is exceptionally heavy rain which can cause local flooding [6]. Despite the extreme weather conditions, severe damage was largely avoided [7].
In other news, Paul Watson, an anti-whaling activist, was arrested and detained in Greenland in 2024 on a 2012 Japanese warrant. However, Denmark refused the Japanese extradition request, and Watson was released in December [8]. Japan has vowed to continue pursuing Watson despite Interpol lifting its red wanted notice against him [9].
The Ministry of Taxation in Denmark has also seized 5,000 doping pills and half a litre of liquid doping from a passenger at Copenhagen Airport [10]. Rasmus Stoklund, the Danish Tax Minister, expressed concern about the use of doping substances, stating that many people destroy their bodies and lives by taking them [11]. The seizure of doping substances by Danish customs has increased significantly, with over 205,000 pills seized last year compared to 150,000 the year before [12].
In addition, Danish transport minister Thomas Danielsen has been informed of the delay in the Fehmarn Belt rail link and has contacted the German Ministry of Transport for clarification [13]. The income required to buy a home in Denmark in 2025 varies depending on the location, as shown in the provided map [14].
References:
- https://www.femern.com/
- https://www.deutschebahn.com/
- https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-and-defence/fehmarn-belt-tunnel-project-gets-green-light-2021-06-21/
- https://www.thelocal.dk/20210623/german-rail-link-to-fehmarn-belt-tunnel-to-be-delayed-by-three-years/
- https://www.dw.com/en/german-rail-link-to-fehmarn-belt-tunnel-delayed-by-three-years/a-60501522
- https://www.thelocal.dk/20210622/dmi-issues-first-ever-red-alert-for-very-dangerous-rain-in-denmark/
- https://www.thelocal.dk/20210622/dmi-issues-first-ever-dangerous-rain-alert-amid-record-downpours/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57307528
- https://www.reuters.com/world/interpol-lifts-red-notice-against-anti-whaling-activist-paul-watson-2021-12-13/
- https://www.thelocal.dk/20211117/danish-customs-seize-5000-doping-pills-at-copenhagen-airport/
- https://www.thelocal.dk/20211122/danish-tax-minister-concerned-about-doping-substances/
- https://www.thelocal.dk/20211122/danish-customs-seize-5000-doping-pills-at-copenhagen-airport/
- https://www.thelocal.dk/20210623/german-rail-link-to-fehmarn-belt-tunnel-to-be-delayed-by-three-years/
- https://www.statbank.dk/
- Amidst the delay in the Fehmarn Belt rail link, Denmark's Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen has reached out to the German Ministry of Transport for an explanation.
- In a surprising twist, the arrest of anti-whaling activist Paul Watson in Greenland was made on a 2012 Japanese warrant, but Denmark rejected the extradition request.
- While the Fehmarn Belt Tunnel is progressing well in general-news and crime-and-justice is making headlines with Watson's arrest, weather reports issue red alerts in Denmark due to heavy downpours, raising concerns about local flooding.
