Aarhus City Council
City Council considers recommendation on security at Aarhus Havn on Wednesday
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On Wednesday 7 October 2026, Aarhus City Council will consider the Mayor’s Department’s response to Danmarksdemokraterne’s proposal on strengthened security at Aarhus Havn.
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Summary
On Wednesday 7 October 2026, Aarhus City Council will consider the Mayor’s Department’s response to Danmarksdemokraterne’s proposal on strengthened security at Aarhus Havn. The Municipal Executive recommends that the byråd (city council) endorse the recommendation, so the owner brings stakeholders together and the mayor (borgmester) approaches ministers to change the legal framework.
What it means for you
Aarhus Havn is Denmark’s largest commercial port and critical infrastructure. The recommendation is about how the municipality, as owner, will follow up on drug smuggling and organised crime — without taking over police and customs control tasks. If the city council backs it, you can expect coordinated dialogue between the port, operators and authorities, plus political pressure for better national tools for background checks and crime prevention.
Background
Danmarksdemokraterne, with 2nd deputy mayor Jakob Søgaard Clausen as proposer, submitted a motion on 7 June 2026 for an account, action plan and advocacy for stronger national frameworks. The City Council considered the proposal on 17 June 2026 and referred it to the Municipal Executive.
Aarhus Havn A/S, together with APM Terminals, has prepared the requested account. The recommendation of 23 September 2026 proposes that the account be noted, that the Mayor’s Department convene relevant parties, that the mayor contact ministers and authorities, and that follow-up take place under the policy on active ownership and the owner strategy for Aarhus Havn A/S.
The Municipal Executive recommended on 29 September 2026 that the city council endorse the recommendation. Alderman (rådmand) for the Municipal Executive Department for Culture and Citizen Service, Jesper Kjeldsen, and alderman for the Municipal Executive Department for Health and Care, Metin Lindved Aydin, did not take part in consideration of the case.
Figures and facts
- APM Terminals launched a security upgrade programme in 2025, with more than 25 million kroner already invested (Appendix — Appendix 3: Request from Aarhus City Council for input to a consolidated account of the security situation at Aarhus Havn).
- Aarhus Havn has invested significant millions in fencing, gates, access control, licence plate recognition, CCTV and drone-based monitoring, among other measures (Appendix — Appendix 2: Account on security, safeguarding and emergency preparedness at the port in Aarhus).
- The European Ports Alliance was established in 2024 to combat organised drug smuggling via EU ports; Aarhus Havn takes part in the European cooperation (Appendix — Appendix 2: Account on security, safeguarding and emergency preparedness at the port in Aarhus).
- With effect from 2027, the City Council is expected to adopt a new owner strategy for Aarhus Havn A/S, under which the municipality as owner can set requirements for emergency preparedness and security (Appendix — Recommendation).
- The proposal was considered in the city council on 17 June 2026 and in the Municipal Executive on 29 September 2026 (Appendix — Recommendation).
Who said what
In the debate on 17 June 2026, several parties backed taking security seriously and having the issue examined.
Jakob Søgaard Clausen (DD) pointed to the TV2 documentary Mærsk og narkosmuglerne and stressed owner responsibility. Among other things, he called for effective background checks and a stronger customs effort, and noted that around 80 per cent of the country’s containers enter via Aarhus Havn (Appendix — City Council debate 17.06.2026).
Gert Bjerregaard (V) supported the wish for an account, stronger cooperation and an action plan people can rely on. Sarah Jarsbo (EL) endorsed the proposal and stressed that international drug smuggling cannot be solved by Aarhus Kommune alone. Bünyamin Simsek (KF) distinguished between the company, the site and the municipality as owner, and pointed out that private operators have primary responsibility for their own activities. Metin Lindved Aydin (RV) shared the concern but stressed that the most important tools lie with national authorities (Appendix — City Council debate 17.06.2026).
Søren Jensen (LA) endorsed the proposal and noted that as recently as the year before, 70 kg of cocaine was found in a container at the port. Steffen Wich (S) highlighted the port’s investments in drone security, fencing, gate security and access control, among other things, as well as European cooperation in 2026, and backed pushing for new legislation (Appendix — City Council debate 17.06.2026).
What happens next
On Wednesday 7 October 2026, the City Council must decide on the recommendation. The Municipal Executive recommends that the city council endorse it. If it is endorsed, the account will be noted, the Mayor’s Department will convene relevant parties, the mayor will contact ministers and authorities, and follow-up will be incorporated into the owner strategy for Aarhus Havn A/S.
Sources
- Agenda — Response to proposal from DD on strengthened security at Aarhus Havn
- Appendix — Recommendation
- Appendix — City Council debate 17.06.2026
- Appendix — Appendix 2: Account on security, safeguarding and emergency preparedness at the port in Aarhus
- Appendix — Appendix 3: Request from Aarhus City Council for input to a consolidated account of the security situation at Aarhus Havn
- Aarhus Kommune meeting documents — meeting
- Aarhus Kommune
Other appendices
Transcript
Transcript of the council debate with speakers named, from the official signed record.