Denmark and Rwanda have signed a declaration on the possible transfer of asylum seekers to the East African country.

Denmark’s Immigration and Integration Minister Kaare Dybvad Bek and Development Cooperation Minister Flemming Møller Mortensen, as well as Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta and Refugee Minister Marie Solange Kayisire, agreed to strengthen the cooperation in the area of asylum and migration on September 9.

According to the Ministry, the declaration signed by both parties emphasises the common ambition to establish a mechanism for the transfer of asylum seekers from Denmark to Rwanda, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

This means that the two countries are looking for ways to establish a programme that would allow asylum seekers arriving in Denmark to be transferred to Rwanda for consideration of their asylum application.

It has been revealed that under this deal, around 1,000 asylum seekers may be sent to Rwanda each year.

Commenting on the signing of the declaration, Bek said that he is very happy that the country agreed on a joint statement with Rwanda and, at the same time, pointed out that this agreement confirms their ambition to establish such a mechanism.

“We must ensure that refugees come to Europe based on humanitarian considerations such as the UN’s quota refugee system and not based on who can pay a people smuggler and take the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean,” Bek added.

In addition, Bek pointed out that Denmark must ensure that refugees enter Europe on a humanitarian basis in order to avoid dangerous journeys.

Mortensen also welcomed the signing of the declaration. Mortensen said that they must act against illegal migration by creating opportunities in developing countries. In addition, the Minister pointed out that they must develop more humane asylum systems that put an end to human trafficking.

“There is an enormous need to think in completely new ways to create a sustainable solution where we as an international community manage to help more refugees than today. We do this by deploying aid where we can help the most, and where the vast majority of the world’s refugees stay, namely in their immediate areas,” Mortensen stated.

Earlier in August, Denmark decided to take in 200 refugees who were in Rwanda under the refugee quota of 2022. Back then, the Danish government said that this year the country would focus more on refugee women and children and, at the same time, pointed out that the country aims to limit the number of asylum seekers.

AE News