Progress Party wants Norway to follow Denmark and establish asylum reception centers abroad

The leader of the Progress Party (FRP), Sylvi Listhaug, supports the decision of the Danish parliament to allow the establishment of asylum reception centers abroad.

“Denmark is leading the way, and these legislative changes are the first step on the road to a new and more sustainable European asylum system. It is a historic day,” Listhaug told news bureau NTB.

On Thursday, the Folketing passed a law that makes it possible to establish reception centers for asylum seekers in other countries. 

The idea is that people who come to Denmark to apply for asylum are sent to a third country while their asylum application is being processed.

“Norway should definitely follow Denmark in this. Today’s asylum system is not sustainable from an economic, demographic, or humanitarian perspective. By moving asylum treatment to a third country, we will stop the deadly traffic across the Mediterranean,” Listhaug said.

Listhaug: We proposed the same scheme in 2009

Denmark has not yet entered into agreements with any specific countries on such asylum reception centers, but the minority government in the country has had a dialogue with the African countries Tunisia, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Rwanda, according to the newspaper Jyllands-Posten.

“The Progress Party already in 2009 proposed the same scheme that the Danes are now implementing, twelve years later. At the time, the proposal was branded as racist, irresponsible, and ‘right-wing extremist.’

“Fortunately, the world is moving forward, and now the Danish Social Democrats are implementing the same proposal,” Listhaug noted.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

Do you have a news tip for Norway Today? We want to hear it. Get in touch at info@norwaytoday.no