The Moderates propose that Denmark should accept up to 7,000 refugees annually as part of a common EU redistribution mechanism. This proposal comes in the wake of a statement from the party’s lead candidate for the European Parliament, Stine Bosse, who argues that such an action will not only help solve the migration issue in Europe but also benefit Denmark itself. Stine Bosse points out that if Denmark does not participate in the redistribution, it will put a disproportionate strain on Southern Europe, which could escalate into a security risk for the entire continent. “If we don’t do it, we fill up Southern Europe with refugees, and we don’t solve the migration problem. And then this ends up becoming a security risk,” says Bosse to Altinget.
The Moderates’ proposal also includes a confrontation with Denmark’s current opt-out on EU level, which has kept Denmark out of the EU’s common cooperation on migration and asylum policy. By abolishing the opt-out and joining the EU’s migration pact, the Moderates hope to participate in a solidarity mechanism that will redistribute up to 7,000 refugees annually to Denmark. This contrasts with the current government partners, the Social Democrats and the Liberals, who have a different approach to the EU’s migration policy.
In 2015, the opt-out was put to a referendum, where 53.1 percent of Danes voted against removing it. According to figures from the Ministry of Immigration and Integration, Denmark only received 1,343 residence permits in 2023 in the asylum area, illustrating the restrictive approach the country has had to migration in recent years. The Moderates’ proposal marks a significant shift in Danish politics and could potentially change the country’s role in handling international migration challenges.