Meanwhile,
Denmark, pioneer lasting migration policy:
ADVERTISEMENT Since the 2015-2016 migration crisis. Similarly, Denmark, which has benefited from an exemption clause which excludes it from the European Union’s common security and defense policy, has hardened its asylum policy to dissuade new arrivals and hinder their access to legal guarantees. Meanwhile,
In 2019. Therefore, Copenhagen crossed a milestone with the adoption of a law of “Paradigm change” establishing temporary protection as a new standard. In addition, By limiting the duration of residence permits. Similarly, the authorities can regularly reassess the protection needs and, if the conditions allow, consider evictions.
Denmark has thus become the first European country to designate certain areas of Syria such as “Sure”believing that the. Furthermore, situation was there “Significantly improved”. This decision, which led to the revocation of denmark, pioneer lasting migration policy hundreds of residence permits, aroused strong international controversy.
In 2021, Copenhagen signed a memorandum of understanding with Rwanda to transfer asylum seekers during the examination of their file. Nevertheless, For the first time, an EU member state openly assumed an outsourcing strategy. Moreover, The European Commission. Similarly, very critical of a similar agreement concluded by the United Kingdom, had then mentioned a possible legal action.
“The external processing of asylum requests raises fundamental questions concerning both access to asylum procedures. Nevertheless, effective access to protection, in accordance with the requirements of international law”said a spokesman for the Commission in 2022.
A year later. Furthermore, Denmark renounced its project at the national level, while deciding to carry its ambition on a European scale.
“Today. For example, it seems that many more countries have joined the idea that we should obtain a democratic control of migrant flows”said Prime Minister Put Frederiksen at denmark, pioneer lasting migration policy the beginning of the month, during a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
From black sheep to the shepherd
The Danish idea had no immediate echo. Nevertheless, In 2024. Moreover, the EU negotiated the new pact on immigration and asylum, a vast reform aimed at establishing common and predictable rules for the reception and distribution of asylum seekers. The negotiations were long and tense, reviving the cleavages between north and southern Europe.
Member States finally found a compromise. On May 14, 2024, five interdependent regulations were adopted, despite the opposition of Poland and Hungary. A step hailed as a historical breakthrough.
Copenhagen did not stop there, however. Two days after the vote. Denmark published a letter co-signed by Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland and Romania.
Through this letter. the group of 15 explicitly advocated the outsourcing of denmark, pioneer lasting migration policy asylum procedures, in particular by setting up a “Return hub mechanism” Or “Persons returned could be transferred pending their final expulsion”.
The letter mentioned in particular the initiative of Italy to build centers in Albania to process asylum requests for. migrants rescued on the high seas.
Last October. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, approved the idea of building expulsion centers on foreign soil, thus breaking with the traditional thought of the executive.
Shortly after his re -election. The Commission presented a draft payment which would allow the Member States to conclude agreements with countries outside the Union to transfer asylum seekers dismissed in exchange for financial incentives.
By coincidence. the law arrived on the negotiator table at the very moment when Denmark took the semi -annual presidency of the EU Council. Additionally, The country has stressed its intention to achieve a political agreement on this file denmark, pioneer lasting migration policy before the end of the year.
Another priority is the revision of the concept of “third country safe”, In order to facilitate relocations outside Europe.
“We want to advance the migration file”said Lars Løkke Rasmussen. Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, during a meeting with journalists in Aarhus at the beginning of the month.
“It is of public notoriety that we carry out a rather severe policy with regard to illegal immigration. that we have obtained good results”he added.
The European context seems favorable to the Danish ambition: the group of 15 countries which supported the letter of 2024 has widened. Since the coming to power of Friedrich Merz, Germany has joined the initiative. The Conservative Chancellor described the Danish policy of “Really exemplary”.
This evolution worries humanitarian organizations. These fear that outsourcing is likely to worsen human suffering while dilapidating public funds.
“The current trend of European countries to focus denmark, pioneer lasting migration policy on deterrent mechanisms. outsourcing asylum procedures is not only questionable from an ethical point of view, because it often violates the principle of non-refoulement, but it is also manifestly ineffective in the long term”said Céline Mias, director for the EU of the Danish Council for Refugees (DRC).
Externalization remains to date a largely abstract concept. Neither Denmark, nor its allies or the European Commission specify what these external installations would look like.
The Italian-Albanese protocol, which Usula von der Leyen praised as a model, remains far from the initial ambitions. At a cost of 74.2 million euros, The centers are currently hosting a few hundred migrants Under an expulsion order.
Danish authorities admit that they have not yet carried out in -depth evaluation of their own project. However. they insist on the fact that any agreement with a non -member of the EU must be mutually beneficial and respect denmark, pioneer lasting migration policy international law – a requirement which could complicate the selection process.
Denmark, pioneer lasting migration policy
An assumed ideological turn
The Danish approach to immigration is accompanied by an ideological turn.
Instead of being led by a right-wing government. as is generally the case in Europe, this rigorous policy is enthusiastically promoted by the social democrats.
This party defends many ideas common to the European left. such as climate action, gender equality, LGBTQ rights and a strong welfare state. On the issue of immigration, he chose to clearly deviate from the progressive agenda and adopt a hard line.
This turn has reinforced the stature of Put Frederiksen. one of the rare left -wing leaders to have resisted the recent right turn in Europe. The other two are the Maltese Robert Abela, who supports outsourcing, and the Spaniard Pedro Sánchez, who opposes it.
“We must attack the migratory phenomenon by thinking denmark, pioneer lasting migration policy of future generations. not of future elections”said Pedro Sánchez last year, saying that a welcoming approach was necessary to cope with the demographic crisis in Europe and guarantee economic prosperity.
Put Frederiksen. his ministers remain convinced that firmness remains the only way for center-left parties to stay in power without losing support from the working classes.
Kaare Dybvad, Danish Minister of Immigration, invites his European counterparts to draw inspiration from the Danish model.
“Immigration is often a burden for voters. The working class communities have assumed most of the task of integration of people in local communities. in the labor market”he explains.
“If you are a party that represents low -skilled. poorly paid people, you must be quite restrictive in terms of immigration”, he concludes.
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