Minister of Emergency Situations Torsten Schack Pedersen (V) called it "absolutely central" to get control of his ministry's powers.
A commission was supposed to look into it, but the commission was dropped almost two months ago. Instead, the minister wanted to set up an expert panel to advise the government. On Friday, it emerged that the expert panel consists of eight people, and who they are.
The experts have operational experience from rescue, police, crisis management and organization. They come from places such as the Capital Emergency Service, Frederiksborg Fire & Rescue and the Emergency Management Agency.
This is stated in a press release from the Ministry of Community Safety and Emergency Situations.
The expert panel will initially provide input for further work on selected topics. They are expected to report before New Year 2025.
- The cooperation between the state and municipal rescue services is important for a well-functioning overall Danish emergency response. That is why I am very pleased that we have put together a broad expert panel, says the minister in the press release.
The Ministry of Community Safety and Emergency Preparedness was born in August 2024 during a government reshuffle with a significant ambiguity.
It was not clear whether the ministry has the legal authority to demand or simply recommend something, when and if it should order authorities or others to strengthen their preparedness.
It could make the difference whether Denmark is safe or not if the crisis hits, criticism has been voiced by the Danish Emergency Services, an association of municipal emergency services.
Torsten Schack Pedersen has previously criticized the ambiguity, which has been known for years, and that the subject should be investigated by a commission. But it came to nothing. The time is not ripe for waiting for a commission, the minister said when the commission was dropped.
Members of the expert panel
Jakob Vedsted Andersen, emergency director, Capital Emergency Services
Rikke Sønderriis, emergency director, Frederiksborg Fire & Rescue
Christine Engel Christensen, former director of the Emergency Management Agency
Henrik Skals, police inspector, North Jutland Police
Sascha Volmer Sørensen, former Municipal Director Gribskov Municipality
Rasmus Dahlberg, Associate Professor, Danish Defence Academy
Kristian Cederwall Lauta, Researcher in Disaster Theory and Disaster Law, University of Copenhagen
Gunnar Wedell van der Leeden, Head of Department for Weather and Warnings at DMI
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