Denmark considers alternatives to Rwanda for establishing a reception center. During a conference in Copenhagen on migration challenges held on Monday, it emerged that the Danish government is considering alternative locations to Rwanda for establishing a reception center outside of Europe. This is in an attempt to handle the increasing migration flows that challenge the European asylum system. Minister for Immigration and Integration Kaare Dybvad Bek (Social Democrats) stated that although the Social Democrats had previously worked to establish a center in Rwanda, it is now more important to simply establish a center outside Europe’s borders. “We are discussing third-country agreements and looking at possibilities in different countries, similar to what was done with Turkey in 2016,” he said.
Plans for a Danish reception center in Rwanda have been on hold since the SVM government took power after the 2022 election. These plans were originally introduced by the Social Democratic government in 2019 with the aim of moving asylum processing out of Denmark and thus combating human trafficking across the Mediterranean. The conference, where Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen delivered the opening speech, brought together decision-makers and experts from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa to discuss new solutions for migration and asylum systems. Frederiksen described the current situation as “untenable” and emphasized the need for collaboration with other EU countries and African nations.
Although a political declaration had been previously made between Denmark and Rwanda, Rwanda is not mentioned in the current government platform. Instead, it is stated that a reception center should be established in collaboration with the EU or other countries. This new direction in Danish migration policy marks a significant change in the approach to handling asylum seekers and migrants seeking Europe.