Denmark’s Minister for Trade and European Affairs Nick Hækkerup visits New York City
The Consulate General of Denmark in New York has sent a report and pictures to The Danish Pioneer Newspaper from the official visit to New York City by Denmark’s Minister for Trade and European Affairs Mr. Nick Hækkerup on September 19 and 20, 2013. Minister Hækkerup’s visit was in connection with the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit.
Minister Nick Hækkerup and Deborah McWhinney (Photo courtesy of The Consulate General of Denmark)
On Friday, September 20, the Consulate General of Denmark in New York together with the European American Chamber of Commerce held a breakfast event and panel debate on ”The Y Factor: How Women Grow the New Economy” in the new Denmark’s residence in New York. Together with the leaders from public and private business, the minister discussed the various roles business women and female leaders play in the USA’s and Europe’s way out of the world financial crisis.
Minister Hækkerup had the opportunity to meet with Toni Reinhold, President, Newswomen’s Club of New York, VP, Overseas Press Club, and editor on the Americas Desk, Reuters; Laurie Fulton, former US Ambassador to Denmark and partner in Williams & Connolly; Kay Hymowitz, journalist and fellow at Manhattan Institute; Eddie Williams, Corporate vice president of biopharmaceuticals at Novo Nordisk Inc.; Deborah McWhinney, COO of Global Enterprise Payments, Citi & Co-chair of Citi Women; and Deborah Butters, VP of IBM Global Services.
The panel debate on ”The Y Factor: How Women Grow the New Economy”. (Photo courtesy of The Consulate General of Denmark)
The entire Y Factor debate is available on the Consulate’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/DenmarkinNY
The Minister later gave a lecture at The New School, Milano School for International Affairs and Public Engagement, on “The American Dream Comes to Life in Denmark”.
In his lecture, the minister posed the question whether Denmark has a more sustainable economic model than the US and explained what lies behind the Denmark’s continuous rating as the happiest country in the world, most recently in the 2013 World Happiness Report.
The lecture followed up on the intense US media coverage of the Danish welfare model this spring in the wake of The Economist’s special report on “The Nordic Supermodel.” The minister argued that the Nordic model creates the foundation for the American Dream as defined by historian James Adams in 1931: “Life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone. With opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. Regardless of social class or circumstances of birth”.
“The Nordic welfare states are based on shared political values of equal opportunities, social solidarity and security for all. As a result of the economic crisis, some people have argued that if we want to control public spending we have to comprise on our values. Compromise on the principle that everyone is entitled to equal access to social and health services, education and culture. I strongly disagree. Only by letting these core values and principles guide the reform process will it be possible to balance the books and modernise our welfare states,” said the Minister who also acknowledged the need for reform to secure the welfare state for the future.
“But reform and modernisation is not just austerity and cutbacks. Denmark and the other Nordic countries have been promoting welfare reform and innovation for many years. We may have big government, but not ineffective or inefficient government.”
He also noted the success of the Danish model by the fact that Denmark along with the US is among the 5 best countries in the world to do business.
After the lecture, the minister did a Q&A session moderated by Dean at The New School for Social Research, Will Milberg.
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