- It is extremely important to get started now.
This is the message from Susanne Vemmelund, who is the director of the Scandinavian branch of the recruitment company AA Euro Group, when asked about the importance of initiating cooperation between Danish and German companies already now. And five years before the connection opens is by no means too early.
AA Euro Group is a member of FB Suppliers, a network consisting of over 100 companies that provide services and products in connection with the establishment of Femern. There is great interest in making it as easy as possible to cross the Fehmarn Belt for both employers and employees.
- Just look at the Øresund region. It has taken 25 years here, and they only started after the Øresund Bridge was completed and are only now getting there. If you are in Copenhagen, you can see how many Swedes work in Copenhagen today. Here, there have been many of the same issues that we face in relation to Denmark/Germany, says Susanne Vemmelund, mentioning banking and tax matters as examples.
Just look at the Øresund region. It has taken 25 years here, and they only started after the Øresund Bridge was completed and are only just getting there now.
Susanne Vemmelund, AA Euro Group
- It is important to already establish how Danish and German companies can work together, and how we can make it attractive and easy for each other. If we can already make a difference now, it will be easier when we open in 2029, she says.
Workforce across borders
Susanne Vemmelund participated in a matchmaking event between Danish and German companies in Rødbyhavn, where a presentation, among other things, introduced the possibility of sending apprentices and workforce back and forth between Denmark and Germany.
- We have a lot of young people who should have the opportunity to go out and experience the world. The whole apprentice issue needs to be made much easier. It should be easy for them to travel in the EU without having to worry about managing a sea of forms and applications, she says and continues:
- We need to make the rules uniform for everyone - especially between Germany and Denmark, says Susanne Vemmelund and adds that it can encourage more people to pursue vocational education and make companies more attractive for apprentices if a stay abroad is offered.
She also highlights that as climate change progresses, Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia will become an even more popular travel destination.
- We will also face a labor shortage in Denmark. There is a lot of tourism that is starting to turn towards Scandinavia due to climate change. So, we naturally need to have enough personnel to handle the tasks when there is a huge influx. It goes both ways, Susanne Vemmelund emphasizes.
