Denmark’s debate on family reunion immigration tends to be based on a misapprehension that most cases of foreign spouse immigration are from Muslim countries, according to the Ministry of Integration. Danes marry people from all over the world.

In 2009, 498 people from Thailand were given permission for spouses to join them. A further 365 came from Turkey, 277 from the Philippines, 176 from China and 174 from the United States.

“The figures show that family reunion immigration is spread across many more nations, and it is nations other than those named in the debate that top the list,” says Integration Minister Birthe Rønn Hornbech (Lib).

“It is a picture that shows globalism, and that spouse reunions are from hard-working nations that integrate easily. It is wrong to stress Turks and Pakistanis,” Hornbech adds, saying that people from these nations too are becoming more and more educated.

DPP seeks to increase marriage age
In order to reduce Muslim immigration and prevent arranged marriages, the Danish People’s Party has suggested that the current age of 24 at which Danes can bring foreign spouses to Denmark, should be increased to 28. The proposal has been roundly criticised by most Parliamentary parties.

Hornbech, who is opposed to the proposal, says that the figures show that tightening the rules would make it more difficult for Danes to marry spouses from many other countries, nationals of whom Denmark welcomes.

“If we go up to 28, you can see from the top five in the list, that completely different nations would be affected,” Hornbec h says, adding that tightening the rules would be detrimental to both integration and economic growth.

Not surprised
The Danish People’s Party is not surprised at the figures, but maintains its demand for an increase in the age of marriage for foreign spouse immigration.

“Of course we want Muslim immigration reduced further, and a 28 rule is a method to do so. But there are also difficulties in integrating people from other, non-Muslim countries,” says DPP Foreigner Policy Spokesman Martin Henriksen.

“We should be aware of the fact that there will always be a period of adjustment if people come from countries that have a different culture than the Danish or Western ones. That is also the case for people from, for example, the Philippines as well as others. So it can be sensible to slow the pace of this type of immigration in order to make it easier to integrate those who are already here,” says Henriksen.

The Danish People’s Party has also suggested that dispensations from a 28 rule could be awarded to nationalities which the DPP claims do not traditionally use arranged marriages. Several experts, however, have said that such a move would run contrary to international conventions.

“But if Birthe Rønn Hornbech is ready to discuss dispensations for those who come, for example, from the Phillippines, we are prepared to enter into such discussions,” says Henriksen.