Although the United Kingdom recently passed a law enabling the sending of asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing, this does not immediately affect Denmark’s plans for a similar reception center in the African country. This was emphasized by Minister for Immigration and Integration Kaare Dybvad Bek (Social Democrats) in a recent statement. The Danish government, currently a coalition between the Social Democrats, Venstre, and the Moderates, instead looks towards a broader EU-based solution to handle asylum applications and combat human trafficking, especially across the Mediterranean.
“It is extremely positive that the UK has taken this step, but our focus is on a comprehensive European solution,” said Dybvad Bek. The plans for a Danish reception center in Rwanda were originally put forward by the previous Social Democrat government in 2019, but have been on hold since the new government formation after the 2022 election. The Moderates, a part of the current government coalition, have expressed opposition to the idea of a reception center in Rwanda.
Dybvad Bek noted that the trend of moving asylum processing outside of one’s own borders is increasing globally, and he expects this practice to become more widespread in Europe over time. “The more countries that adopt this model, the sooner we will see a change,” he added. Despite optimism about a collective EU solution, the minister could not provide a precise timeline for when such an agreement could be in place.
“I have stopped giving time estimates,” he said, pointing out that the upcoming new European Parliament will play an important role in shaping the future asylum policy and the treatment of asylum seekers outside the EU’s borders.