News from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

Denmark and the EU aim for greater attention to the wishes and priorities of the African countries. Equal partnerships with African countries is a central focus of the new strategy launched today by Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy Dan Jørgensen.

The Nordic countries are greatly concerned by the withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues which is exacerbating the strenuous fiscal situation of the Palestinian Authority. Like the G7 in its recent Apulia summit Leaders’ Communiqué, the Nordic countries call on Israel to urgently release the withheld clearance revenues as well as to ensure that correspondent banking services between Israeli and Palestinian banks are maintained. Any action weakening the Palestinian Authority or worsening the economic situation in the West Bank must be avoided. We emphasise that maintaining stability in the West Bank, and preparing for one legitimate Palestinian government for the West Bank and Gaza, is critical for regional security and in the interests of Palestinians as well as Israelis. The Nordic countries are committed to supporting the Palestinian Authority and the necessary reforms that it must undertake. The strengthening of legitimate Palestinian institutions is the best way of weakening

Following a vote in the UN General Assembly on Thursday, Denmark is assured membership on the UN Security Council for the next two years.

Established in the aftermath of the World War II in 1949 to ensure sustainable peace and democracy, the mission of the Council of Europe as the continent’s leading human rights organization remains indispensable. Its core values – human rights, democracy and the rule of law – are fundamental also for the Nordic societies and form a longstanding basis for Nordic foreign policies.

Two out of three refugees experience prolonged humanitarian crises lasting several years, often even decades. Meanwhile, refugee camps have traditionally been designed and run as temporary solutions for acute crises. A new partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the LEGO Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, and Grundfos Foundation supports Kenya's ambitions to move away from a temporary approach, benefiting both refugees and local communities.

Every year, 3.7 million people worldwide die prematurely due to cooking over open fires or wood-fired stoves. They are exposed to harmful smoke from cooking based on charcoal, wood, or agricultural waste. The government now strengthens efforts to promote healthier and more sustainable solutions, also known as clean cooking, with about 72 million US dollar.

Nordic-African Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Copenhagen 3 May 2024

We, the Nordic-Baltic countries have supported the democratic and economic development of Georgia ever since its restoration of independence.

More than two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, nearly 15 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the UN. This represents about 40% of the population still in Ukraine. The war particularly affects the most vulnerable Ukrainians, including women, children, and people displaced by the war. Therefore, the Danish government is contributing with a new humanitarian support package of 250 million Danish kroner to help meet the basic needs of the most affected Ukrainians.

On the occasion of Bill Gates visiting Denmark today, the Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Dan Jørgensen and Bill Gates signed an agreement setting out the direction for a stronger and expanded partnership between Denmark and the Gates Foundation advance solutions in areas such as global health, climate adaptation and gender equality.

Twenty-six African and five Nordic countries are meeting today and tomorrow in Copenhagen, where Denmark hosts the Nordic-African Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

More than 15 African foreign ministers and all Nordic foreign ministers will participate when Denmark hosts the Nordic-African Foreign Ministers Meeting (NAUM) next week.

Developing countries need enormous sums for climate action, poverty alleviation and development. Therefore, we must employ new and innovative methods to massively scale up investments. Denmark is among the first countries contributing to two new financing tools that will raise billions for climate and development.

After the withdrawal of the Danish force protection personnel and the national support element from NATO Mission Iraq (NMI), the Danish government has decided to close the Danish embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.

Issued by: United States, Japan, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, India, Republic of Korea, Spain, Australia, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, and New Zealand The G20 Independent Review of Multilateral Development Banks’ (MDB) Capital Adequacy Frameworks (G20 CAF Review) provided thoughtful recommendations for boosting MDB financial capacity by stretching existing resources and pursuing innovative measures. The G20 Presidencies of Italy, Indonesia, and India were all key to launching and driving forward the G20 CAF Review. The implementation of several of its recommendations by the MDBs has already generated significant additional MDB financing capacity. In a strong demonstration of our support for the MDBs[1], shareholders have collectively committed a combined $796 billion in callable capital to these institutions, which can be drawn on or “called” in the extremely remote scenario that an MDB is unable to meet its financial obligations. In the 80 years since the Bre

The Nordic countries welcome the Israeli government’s announcement that life-saving humanitarian assistance to Gaza can be received in the port of Ashdod, that the Erez crossing will be reopened to facilitate entry to north Gaza, and that humanitarian assistance from Jordan entering through Kerem Shalom crossing in the south will be increased.

A Danish contribution of 40 million DKK to the Ukrainian energy system is on route after massive Russian attacks on the infrastructure, which has left many without electricity. With the new funds, Denmark delivers yet another substantial contribution to ensure that the Ukrainian energy supply is maintained.

The DKK 105 million contribution will primarily support UNRWA’s efforts to mitigate the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. The disbursement follows the initiation of a number of necessary UN measures, and decisions by like-minded such as Sweden and Canada, as well as the EU, to disburse aid to UNRWA.

To ensure that Denmark and Europe continue to play an important and influential role in the new geopolitical reality, we must increase our engagement with Africa. The Danish Government is therefore launching an extensive effort to develop and implement a new strategic approach to Denmark’s engagement on the African continent.

You can now vote abroad for the European elections on 9 June 2024.