Integration Minister Birthe Rønn Hornbech has decided not to take any more Iraqi quota refugees this year, but instead to choose refugees from Burma.

This despite the fact that a memorandum from the Integration Ministry to Parliament has said that the ministry is prepared to take Iraqi quota refugees who are currently living in Syria and Jordan.

The Immigration Service has also recommended taking Iraqi refugees, but the minister has decided to take Burmese refugees currently in Malaysia instead.

Hornbech says the Burmese are easier to integrate.

"There are millions and millions of refugees in the world. And there have been good experiences in integrating the Burmese. I have nothing else to add. You will have to ask the Immigration Service what they have recommended," Hornbech says in a brief e-mail.

Immigration Service
The Immigration Service has declined to comment further on the issue. In June, however, Immigration Service Centre Director Anni Fode confirmed that the minister had received a clear recommendation from the Service.

"I can confirm that the Immigration Service has recommended to the minister that we receive Iraqi quota refugees," Fode told Politiken in June.

Social Liberals
The Social Liberal Party Leader Margrethe Vestager is demanding an explanation.

"I have a suspicion that this is all about domestic politics. Birthe Rønn does not want to be in a situation in which she sends Iraqis out of the country on the one hand and receives Iraqis in Denmark on the other," Vestager says adding that it is natural that Parliament shold be told why priorities have changed.