The Nordic states of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have agreed to cooperate more closely on the deportation of migrants who have entered the country irregularly.
Following a meeting in Denmark's capital Copenhagen, ministers from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland agreed to tighter cooperation among the five countries when it comes to deporting rejected asylum seekers and other foreigners without residence permits.
During the two-day meeting, the Nordic countries agreed that they shared "common interests", Danish Immigration and Integration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek said on Tuesday (October 31).
One common goal was "ensuring the deportation of foreigners without residence permits" to their countries of origin, Dybvad Bek added.
The ministers agreed on three initiatives, focused on "strengthening reintegration projects in countries of origin," carrying out joint deportation flights in collaboration with EU border agency Frontex as well as "providing assistance to stranded irregular migrants in North Africa, who wish to voluntary return to their own countries," a press release published Tuesday stated.
In case of a voluntary return to their country of origin, migrants in North Africa will be offered assistance with reintegration through the UN migration agency IOM, according to the press release.
Read more: How European countries seek to deter asylum seekers
Strict approach on immigration
Denmark's social democratic government has pursued a tough course with its migration policy for years.
In July 2023, only 180 people applied for asylum in the country of 6 million. In contrast, Germany, which has a population of 84 million, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) recorded 25,165 new asylum bids in the same month.
When she first took office in 2019, Danish head of government Mette Frederiksen already issued a goal of reducing the number of asylum seekers to zero. In 2020, Denmark also became the first European country to revoke the residence permits of Syrian refugees from the Damascus region, citing an improved security situation around the Syrian capital.
Earlier this year, the Danish Immigration Service declared two more areas of government-controlled Syria as "safe" for refugees to return to, a move criticized by rights groups.
The New York Times reported late last month that a government program is using demolition and relocation to remake neighborhoods with immigrants, poverty or crime to dismantle what the government calls "parallel societies".
Following Denmark's lead
The other Nordic states recently also tightened their approach. In Sweden, a conservative government took power a little over a year ago with the support of the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats.
Late last month, Sweden's coalition government announced reforms requiring immigrants from countries outside the European Union to learn Swedish and compete for jobs in the country's highly-skilled labor market. Leaders of the three-party coalition and the far-right Sweden Democrats have claimed that Sweden has "significant problems" with foreign-born people who are unemployed and live on benefits.
In Finland, a coalition government recently formed with a right-wing populist party, The Finns. Similar to Sweden, the Finnish government announced a stricter course on migration. An EU report published last month found that of the 27 member states of the European Union, Finland has the third-most anti-Black racism.
Read more: Sweden - Refugees, burning holy books and a 'complex security situation'
with dpa, AFP