Immigration law seesaws

As Denmark heads towards its next election, signs are that things are going to get ugly. The usual suspects (and casualties) are immigrants; more specifically, the non-European spouses of Danish citizens.

Under the new ‘finanslov’, or budget, they are likely to face even stiffer regulations before being allowed to take residency in Denmark. These regulations, modeled on the points-system already used in countries like the UK and USA, and which have been incubating for nearly two years, will include having to take a test to prove one’s Danish language skills, and one’s general knowledge about Denmark’s history and culture.

No prizes for guessing that the main instigator behind the stiffening of sentence is the hard-right Dansk Folkparti. The ruling Venstre coalition must have DF’s support to pass the ‘finanslov’, and in the process, acquiesce to the latter’s demands on immigration control. Denmark already has the tightest immigration laws in Europe, and indeed, the world.

There are no dearth of critics of this policy either. But given the coming elections, the centre-right government, and moderate left parties have all given their silent approval. A silence not matched by affected Danes.
Already, signs are that a partial rollback of the regulations must be accommodated.

This was clear after employees’ unions, many of whose member characteristically vote hard right, groused that the laws would exclude their blue-collar members from bringing foreign wives and girlfriends back home. As the immigration rules tend to be often re-written, it’s anyone’s guess when a new set of criteria will be suggested or passed into law.

Meanwhile, there’s plenty for immigrants and would-be arrivals to remain anxious about the state of play in Europe… if you’re non-European.

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