Far fewer new permanent residents
URL: http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Andre_sprog/English/2011/11/25/115826.htm
The number of new permanent residents in Denmark is falling dramatically, according to new figures from the Danish Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice, writes Berlingske.
Up to 30 September this year the Immigration Service issued 525 permanent residence permits, compared to 1,796 in the same period last year. This is a decrease of more than 70 per cent. For comparison, the number of rejected applications has risen from 1,486 to 2,449.
This significant shift coincides with the point system of eligibility for permanent residence introduced in 2010 by the previous, Lib-Con, government and the Danish People’s Party.
The point system tightened such requirements as knowledge of Danish, a job and active citizenship, for example via local clubs and associations.
Peter Skaarup, deputy chairman of the Danish People’s Party, acknowledges that the main intention behind the Act was not to drastically reduce the number of new permanent residents.
“The aim was to get people to make a positive contribution to society. I think the numbers will rise again as immigrants start to fulfil the work experience requirements, for example,” he said to Berlingske.
The Liberals’ spokeswoman on integration affairs, Inger Støjberg, rejects any claim that the point system is not functioning as intended.
“The intention was that new immigrants should be able and willing to make a contribution to society, and the figures clearly show that many applicants have failed to meet the requirements,” she told Berlingske.
Although the new government’s programme includes a plan to abolish the point system, Morten Bødskov (SocDem), Minister of Justice, will not guarantee that more immigrants will be able to achieve permanent residence in future.
“When the proposed new legislation is presented next week, it will show how and when the government plans to introduce new measures,” Morgen Bødskov told Berlingske.
