Denmark’s Approach to Immigration and the Debate on EU’s Asylum and Migration Policy | Northern Europe | bpb.de

The turn to temporary protection

Since its inception, the 1999 Integration Act has been amended several times, moving toward a stricter approach, particularly since 2015. In 2017, the quota of 500 resettled refugees through UNHCR was put on hold for three consequtive years, and resettlement numbers have significantly declined since 2020. A notable development was the legislative overhaul between 2015 and 2019, which introduced 114 restrictions within the area of integration and immigration policy – an initiative politically termed the “Paradigm Shift”. In 2015, a temporary subsidiary protection status was introduced to the Aliens Act, establishing that all humanitarian residence permits are granted for temporary stay only, making temporary protection the new norm. This shift further implied a greater focus on both the personal responsibility of refugees to provide for their own livelihoods and on the repatriation of refugees.

Migration in the public debate

In Denmark, migration has long been a subject of intense debate. The “Paradigm Shift” has heightened the focus on migration among Danish politicians and decision-makers across the political spectrum. For instance, Danish MPs have criticized migration scholars, accusing them of being activists doing “anti-science”. Among the focal points of recent discussions centering around immigration and forced migration have been revocation cases, particularly involving young Syrian female refugees whose residence permits have not been extended and are now facing deportation to Syria. These women are protected under Article 7.3 of the Aliens Act, which offers weaker protections than those available for their male counterparts at risk of forced military service in Syria. Public opinion and debate are polarized: some argue that revocations are unjust, especially for individuals who have lived and/or studied in Denmark since childhood, while others see it as a necessary measure to reduce the number of foreigners. After the fall of the Assad regime in early December 2024, the Danish Refugee Appeals Board has put ongoing cases regarding Syrian nationals on hold.

The role of the EU’s migration and asylum policy in Denmark

Due to Denmark’s opt-out from EU cooperation on justice and home affairs, the country is not directly obliged by EU immigration and asylum policies, except for the Dublin III and Eurodac regulations. Observers argue, this opt-out from the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) has likely allowed Denmark to deviate from EU asylum legislation in recent years and instead turn to temporary protection and repatriation policies. Denmark took the lead in a joint call from 15 member states to the EU Commission to enhance migration policy outsourcing and tighten migration control, shortly after the New Pact on Migration and Asylum was adopted in May 2024. The letter also proposed “return hub mechanisms” to facilitate the transfer of rejected asylum seekers to third countries, similar to Denmark’s initial plans for externalizing asylum processing to Rwanda. So far, this initiative has led to a Externer Link: Memorandum of Understanding with Rwanda’s government, but no concrete arrangements and actions.

Denmark as a restrictive ‘role model’?

Among the Nordic states, Denmark ranks the lowest in access to family reunification and permanent residence, according to the 2019 EU Migration Policy Index. Denmark currently enforces very strict family reunification rules. The even stricter policies on integration and immigration have spilled over to neighboring countries like Sweden, that are currently drawing inspiration from the “Danish model”. For instance, at the annual meeting of Nordic ministers responsible for migration in August 2024, discussions centered on strengthening cooperation, promoting reintegration and repatriation of refugees, and enhancing security at the EU’s external borders. Similarely, Germany’s recent “Migrationswende” seems to draw inspiration from the Danish Frederiksen II Cabinet (SVM-government) led by the Social Democrats in coalition with the Moderates and the Liberal Party. The increasingly restrictive asylum policies, coupled with a preference for temporary protection and return-focused measures, position Denmark as a new kind of restrictive ‘role model’ in Northern Europe.