Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke (S) is once again facing critical questions from a united opposition deeply dissatisfied with the handling of pollution in the Danish seas. Wednesday’s hearing will focus on emissions from companies such as Cheminova, now FMC, which has been a source of serious environmental problems. The opposition demands a thorough investigation of the practices of the Ministry of the Environment, after it has emerged that the ministry has repeatedly granted permission to discharge harmful substances. This is revealed in a report from DR, which suggests that guidelines for pollution limits in the seas should be withdrawn and replaced with new, unambiguous rules.
The political leader of the Radical Left (De Radikale), Martin Lidegaard, emphasizes the need for a comprehensive clean-up to restore the health of the seas. Heunicke has previously been questioned on the same topic, most recently on May 28, but the opposition believes his answers have been inadequate. The criticism has been further reinforced in a joint article in Altinget, where all opposition parties except the Danish Democrats have joined in. However, the Danish Democrats have now also stated that they support the criticism.
The parties point out that Denmark’s unique position surrounded by water is threatened by decades of toxic wastewater and nitrogen emissions from agriculture. Heunicke has previously promised an impartial investigation of the environmental permits granted to Cheminova, but the opposition finds this investigation too narrow. The minister has assured that the guidelines developed have been approved by the European Commission, but several experts have told DR that this is not correct. However, Heunicke denies misleading the Folketing (Danish Parliament). The hearing will take place at 12:00.