EUROPEAN NETWORK AGAINST RACISM

PRESS RELEASE

First draft of new immigration legislation in Denmark

Brussels, 23 January 2002

The European Network against Racism (ENAR) is deeply concerned about new proposal on Danish immigration legislation, which might fall short on international human rights standards.

The first proposal “A new policy for foreigners” of the Danish Minister for refugees, immigrants and integration, Mr Bertel Haarder on asylum procedures, refugees, de facto refugees, family reunion and residence permits was currently put on the table.

After a careful study of Minister Haarder’s statement on immigration to Denmark, ENAR - European Network Against Racism – with headquarter in Brussels and with more than 600 member organizations in 15 EU countries, is in no doubt that despite Danish Government’s professed good intentions to keep human rights standards, many of the proposals would hurt the cause of integration and in some cases would place ethnic minorities in difficult socio-economical situations than before.

The right to seek asylum, the right to be united with one’s family, the right to marry whom one wishes, the right not to be discriminated in a society are fundamental for any human being. To place barriers in the fulfilment of these rights serve no purpose except worsen relations between ethnic minorities and the majority population.

Danish experts according to media reports believe that these restrictive measures are a giant step backward in the process of integration.

Members of the European Parliament that are informed by ENAR about the proposal of new immigration legislation are worried that Danish tightening measures may affect other EU countries legislative measures as well as it may hamper discussion on EU level.

ENAR calls upon Danish authorities to take into consideration valid objections and comments from non-governmental organisations, which are emerging before presenting a formal bill in the Parliament in March 2002.

ENAR can be reached at:

Tel: 0032 (0)2 229 35 72 Tel: 0045 (0)40 15 47 71

Vera Egenberger Bashy Quraishy

Director, ENAR President, ENAR

ENAR - 43 rue de la Charité. B-1210 Brussels

Fax: 0032 (0)2 229 35 75. e-mail: vera@enar-eu.org. Website: www.enar-eu.org