The Danish Minister for Integration has firmly rejected a Danish People’s Party proposal to increase to 28 the age at which Danes can marry foreign spouses and bring them to Denmark.

In a written response to Berlingske Tidende, Integration Minister Birthe Rønn Hornbech roundly criticises the DPP proposal, saying it would be directly harmful to both integration and economic growth in Denmark.

“A 28-year rule could result in more people using the EU rules. That would mean we would have many more people using their waiting time in another EU country, and thus not be as well integrated, and not be as encouraged to educate themselves as we do in Denmark,” the minister says in her response.

“It would run contrary to the government’s integration and growth policies and further the influx of those who are neither integrated nor educated,” Rønn Hornbech continues.

The Danish People's Party has suggested that its support for the government's education grant and early retirement reforms due to be put forward later this year is contingent on the government accepting its proposal to increase the current 24-year rule to 28.