As Denmark prepares to take over the presidency of the European Union from Poland on July 1, 2025, the country has announced a bold plan to tighten migration laws across Europe. The Danish government says it will focus on making EU migration policies tougher and more secure during its six-month leadership of the bloc.
At the center of Denmark’s proposal is the idea of externalising asylum procedures, meaning processing asylum applications outside of Europe. This idea has long been controversial but is gaining traction in some EU countries. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is aiming to build support from other EU leaders for this approach, saying it will help Europe better control migration and protect its borders.
Denmark is already known for having some of the strictest migration rules in Europe. Over the past few years, several EU countries have adopted similar hardline policies, and now Denmark wants to make these stricter rules more uniform across the entire EU.
Speaking about the country’s EU presidency goals, European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre said, “Migration policy is linked to security. We need a Europe that is safer, more stable and more robust. That can’t happen unless we control the flow of migrants to Europe.”
Another major proposal includes limiting the influence of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on migration decisions. Denmark wants to reduce how much power international courts have over EU asylum cases, especially when it comes to legal appeals by migrants whose applications have been rejected. The government believes this could help speed up deportations and prevent what they call “abuse of the asylum system.”
These proposals are expected to be a major topic during Denmark’s presidency, and officials say discussions will begin immediately once they take over. However, not all EU countries agree with Denmark’s approach, and it may take months to find a common path forward.
Denmark has already signed deals with non-EU countries in the past to explore external asylum processing centers, including in Rwanda, though such plans have faced criticism from human rights organizations. Now, the country hopes to bring similar ideas to the EU level.
Prime Minister Frederiksen believes the time is right to act, especially as migration numbers rise again across Europe and public pressure builds in many countries to tighten control. “We need strong European cooperation to ensure our asylum system works fairly—but also firmly,” she recently said.
With migration continuing to be a major issue in European politics, Denmark’s upcoming leadership role could be a turning point for how the EU handles asylum in the future. Whether or not these tough new policies are approved, Denmark’s agenda is sure to spark intense debate among EU nations, human rights groups, and migration experts.