In a striking revelation, it has been revealed that the Ministry of Environment has allowed the discharge of environmentally harmful substances into marine environments, which is in violation of EU legislation. According to a report from DR (Danmarks Radio – Danish public broadcasting), companies like Cheminova have been given the green light to discharge chemicals into already polluted marine areas, despite existing EU rules prohibiting further pollution of these water bodies. Officials in the ministry warned as early as 2019 that this practice could be considered illegal by the EU Court of Justice. However, these warnings were apparently ignored, and environmentally harmful substances continue to be discharged. This has led to criticism from various quarters, including researchers and lawyers, who believe that the ministry has prioritized business interests over environmental protection.
Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke of the Social Democratic Party has not wanted to comment directly on the matter, but the ministry has, in a written response to DR, denied any violation of the law. However, the issue has caused a stir among opposition parties, where, among others, Pelle Dragsted of the Red-Green Alliance has expressed sharp criticism and demands that the minister be called in for questioning. The debate on the handling of this issue by the Ministry of Environment is far from over, and it is expected that there will be further political focus on how Denmark protects its marine environments from further pollution.