Emergency preparedness planning in Denmark 

All Danish authorities - municipalities, regions and central authorities - must be prepared to manage emergencies, so that they can maintain their most critical functions in the case of accidents and other crises.

The municipal and regional councils are responsible for maintaining all their critical functions. 

At national level the ministries are responsible for planning within their respective areas of responsibility. Their tasks are to maintain the functions of the Government and the public administration, producing necessary legislation and providing guidance to regional and municipal authorities.

The Danish Emergency Management Agency has the coordinating responsibility on behalf of the Minister of Defence. The Agency provides guidance to other authorities on contingency planning and facilitates the coordination of activities.

The principles of sector responsibility and proximity
The responsibilities of an authority for preparedness planning depend on the responsibilities of the authority under normal conditions. This is a consequence of the principles of sector responsibility and proximity.

The principle of sector responsibility means that the authority responsible for the day-to-day business of a function is also responsible in the case of accidents and crises. The principle is outlined in Section 24.1 of the Danish Emergency Management Act.

The principle of sector responsibility means that the respective authorities are responsible for the whole range of activities from prevention to emergency plans.
The principle of proximity means that the task related to emergency management should be carried out as close to the citizens and at the lowest organisational level as possible and feasible in order to implement the task effectively.