Presentation from 2025 Conference on Accelerating Infrastructure Permitting. For further information please see www.oecd.org/gov

1. OECD – NETWORK
ADVANCING INFRASTRUCTURE
GOVERNANCE
Cla us Dynesen
24 Februa ry 20 25

2. AGENDA
1. Introduction
• Curriculum vitae – Claus Dynesen
• Ownership structure of Sund & Bælt
2. Historical context of marine mega infrastructure in Denmark
• Key EU regulations for the development of mega infrastructure
• Overview of mega infrastructure in Denmark
• The Great Belt Fixed Link
• The Oresund Fixed Link
• The Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link
3. Learnings from 40 years of Danish marine mega infrastructure – and ideas for mitigation
• Impact of increasing complexity in project development
• Windows of opportunity in approval processes
• A holistic approach to approval processes
• Strategic citizen involvement
• Keys to improving successful implementation of mega projects
2

3. INTRODUCTION

4. CURRICULUM VITAE
CLAUS DYNESEN
4
20 21 – Present
Project Director, Division for Sustainability & Authorities, Sund & Bælt
Holding
• Developed a nd implement ed sust a ina bilit y st ra t egies.
• Ma na ged environment a l a nd a ut horit y a pprova ls for compa ny project s.
20 0 8 – 20 21
Project Director, Division for Authorities & Environment, Femern A/S
• Est a blished t he environment a l a nd a ut horit y division.
• Defined st ra t egies for environment a l invest iga t ions a nd a ut horit y a pprova ls
in Denma rk a nd Germa ny.
• Prepa red a ut horit y a pplica t ions for Germa n project a pprova l.
20 0 5 – 20 0 8
Project Manager, Femern A/S
• Pa rt icipa t ed in t he prepa ra t ion of t he St a t e Trea t y a nd Project Pla nning Act .
• Developed t he EIA invest iga t ion progra m.
20 0 1 – 20 0 5
Project Manager, Sund & Bælt Holding, Femern Bælt Department
• Prepa red Environment a l Consult a t ion Report s a nd conduct ed hea rings for t he
Fehma rn Belt project .
• Ma na ged supplement a ry environment a l a nd t echnica l st udies.
1991 – 20 0 1
Project Manager, Environment & Authorities, Øresundsbro Konsortiet
• Conduct ed EIA for t he Øresund Fixed Link, securing fina l a pprova l by t he
Da nish Pa rlia ment .
• Obt a ined necessa ry permit s, including environment a l a nd commissioning
a pprova ls.
• Ma na ged Swedish a ut horit y a pprova ls t hrough t he Wa t er Court a nd
Concessions Boa rd.
• Represent ed t he consort ium in Da nish- Swedish minist eria l coordina t ion
groups.
1988 – 1991
Executive Secretary, A/S Storebæltsforbindelsen
• Ma na ged environment a l a nd a ut horit y a pprova ls for t he Grea t Belt Fixed
Link.
• Prepa red decision ba ses for cont ra ct or select ion a nd t echnica l solut ions.
• Ha ndled Finla nd's compla int a t t he Int erna t iona l Court of J ust ice.
• Conduct ed Environment a l Impa ct Assessment s (EIA) a nd public hea rings
for t he Øresund Fixed Link.
Ca nd.phil. from t he Inst it ut e for Socia l Sciences a nd Int erna t iona l St udies,
Universit y of Copenha gen in 1984, specia lizing in int erna t iona l polit ics

5. ORGANISATION
OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE OF SUND & BÆ LT (INCL. SWEDISH PART)
5

6. HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF MEGA
INFRASTRUCTURE IN DENMARK

7. KEY EUROPEAN REGULATIONS FOR THE
DEVELOPMENT OF MARINE MEGA INFRASTRUCTURE
• EIA Direct ive (1989)
• Na t ura 20 0 0 direct ives (Bird Direct ive (1979) a nd
Ha bit a t Direct ive (1992))
• Wa t er Fra me Direct ive (20 0 0 )
• Ma rine Sea Fra mework Direct ive (20 0 8)
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8. OVERVIEW
THE THREE FIXED LINKS
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9. OVERVIEW
PART OF THE
EUROPEAN
TRANSPORT
NETWORK
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10. APPROVAL PROCESS
THE GREAT BELT FIXED LINK
Time schedule
• Preinvest iga t ions 1973- 1985
• Polit ica l negot ia t ions 1985- 1986
• Government decision/ 1986
pa rlia ment a ry decision
• Project a pprova l a nd 1987- 1988
cont ra ct ing
• Const ruct ion t ime 1988- 1998
10

11. LAYOUT
THE ROAD & RAILWAY LINK ACROSS STOREBÆ LT
11
Tot a l lengt h: 17,540 km
East Bridge:
Tot a l lengt h: 6,790 m
East Tunnel:
8 km bored ra ilwa y t unnel
West Bridge:
2 pa ra llel bridges (ra il a nd roa d
bridge)
Tot a l lengt h: 6,611 m

12. APPROVAL PROCESS
THE ØRESUND FIXED LINK
12
Time schedule
• Preinvestigations 1985- 1989
• Political negotiations 1989- 1991
• Government agreement/ 1991
parliamentary decisions
in Denmark and Sweden
• Project approval and 1991- 1995
contracting
• Construction time 1995-
2000

13. LAYOUT
THE ØRESUND FIXED LINK
The entire link: 16 km
High Bridge: 8 km
Peberholm : 4 km
Tunnel: 4 km
Pylons: 20 4 m high
Passage height : 57 m
Main span: 490 m
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14. APPROVAL PROCESS
THE FEHMARNBELT FIXED LINK
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Time schedule
• Preinvestigations 1995- 2007
• Political negotiations 1992- 2008
• Government agreement/ parliamentary decisions in Denmark and Germany 2008 - 2009
• Project approval and tender/ contracting Denmark 2009 - 2016
Plan approval Germany 2009 - 2020
• Construction time ( expected ) 2021- 2029

15. LAYOUT
THE FEHMARNBELT FIXED LINK The ent ire link: 18 km
89 t unnel element s
- 79 standard elements
Length: 217 m
Width: 42 m
Height: 9 m
- 10 special elements
Length: 39 m
Width: 47 m
Height: 13 m
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16. 16
THE FEMARHNBELT FIXED LINK
PRODUCTION FACILITY, DENMARK, DECEMBER 20 24

17. LEARNINGS FROM 40 YEARS OF
DANISH MARINE MEGA
INFRASTRUCTURE
&
IDEAS FOR MITIGATION
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18. CHALLENGES
IMPACT OF INCREASING
COMPLEXITY IN PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT
• St a keholder influence a nd resist a nce
• Enha nced lega l a nd regula t ory (environment a l) requirement s
• Environment a l a nd socio- economic impa ct
• Technologica l int egra t ion
• Cont ra ct a nd Risk ma na gement
• Cost overrun a nd dela ys
• Improvement of qua lit y
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19. 19
Window of opportunity
Approach to stakeholder dialogue:
• Broa d fra mework provides bet t er cit izen
involvement .
• Crea t e decision ma king process where
cit izens feel genuinely hea rd a nd ha ve
influence before polit ica l decisions a re
ma de
Pre study
Terms of reference
EIA - Idea phase
Citizen involvement
EIA - Hearing
Citizen involvement
Construction
law
Citizen
involve -
ment

20. 20
FOCUS POINTS
A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO
APPROVAL PROCESSES
Comprehensive
communication
Inclusive decision -
making
Proactive engagement
Accountability and
transparency
Political
responsibility
Window of opportunity

21. STRATEGIC CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
DEGREES OF CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
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Spectator
Informa t ion
Cont a ct person
Neighbourhood da ys
Participant
Co- developer
Initiator
Hea rings
Public meet ings
Idea workshops
Working groups
Pa rt nerships
Cit izen proposa ls
Independent a ssocia t ions
(support ers or opponent s)

22. RECOMMENDATIONS
KEYS TO IMPROVING SUCCESSFUL
IMPLEMENTATION OF MEGA PROJECTS
22
Political backing in
a democratic
context
Improved tools to
assess socio -
economic benefits
(assessment of
material and non -
material impacts)
Development of
partnership models
in project
development to
secure legitimacy
and responsibility
(designers,
contractors, NGO'
and authorities)
Professionalisation
of public
authorities
Development of
Contract
Frameworks to
improve (clarify)
risk Distribution
and risk
Management

23. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
ANY QUESTIONS?
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