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🇩🇰 Denmark /Crime & Justice

Danish Exit from Schengen Could Attract More Migrants, Government Warns

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Context piece
  • Denmark's exit from the Schengen Area, proposed by the Danish People's Party, could lead to an increase in asylum seekers and migrants.
  • A government memo indicates that leaving Schengen would prevent Denmark from returning asylum seekers to their initial EU entry point, often Greece, Italy, or Spain.
  • Such a move would also restrict Danish access to European databases and cooperation with Europol and Eurojust, potentially hindering crime fighting.

A proposal by the Danish People's Party (DF) to withdraw Denmark from the Schengen Area could inadvertently attract more asylum seekers and migrants to the country, according to a government memo.

The note, seen by Politiken and originating from the Ministry of Immigration and Integration and the Ministry of Justice, suggests that leaving the Schengen agreement would have significant repercussions. The Schengen Area facilitates free movement among EU member states. If Denmark were to leave, it would lose the ability to return asylum seekers to the first EU country they arrived in, which are often countries like Greece, Italy, or Spain.

If Denmark withdraws from Schengen, Denmark can no longer send asylum seekers back to the first EU country they arrived in.

— Ministry of Immigration and Integration and Ministry of Justice memoThe memo outlines a key consequence of Denmark leaving the Schengen agreement.

Furthermore, exiting Schengen would severely limit Denmark's access to crucial European databases. This means Danish authorities would be unable to access shared information regarding individuals deemed "undesirable or convicted and therefore to be denied entry." The memo also warns that leaving the agreement would terminate Denmark's cooperation agreements with Europol and Eurojust, thereby "hampering Danish police" in their efforts to combat crime.

This hinders Denmark's access to databases throughout Europe.

— Ministry of Immigration and Integration and Ministry of Justice memoThe memo details the impact on Danish authorities' ability to access shared European information.

The debate over Schengen is set to intensify with an urgent debate scheduled in the Folketing (Danish Parliament). The Danish People's Party chairman, Morten Messerschmidt, initiated the call for this debate following a recent incident where tens of thousands of migrants illegally crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in late July. Messerschmidt stated that his party's stance is for Denmark to leave the Schengen cooperation.

The potential consequences outlined in the memo suggest a complex interplay between border control policies and international cooperation, raising questions about the effectiveness and broader impact of such a national withdrawal from a key European security framework.

This will 'hamper Danish police' in combating crime.

— Ministry of Immigration and Integration and Ministry of Justice memoThe memo highlights the negative effect on Danish law enforcement's ability to fight crime.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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