Statsministerens indledning til lancering af brev om konventioner den 22. maj 2025

Det talte ord gælder

Thank you so much, dear Georgia, and thank you for the warm welcome. 

You are totally right, we are representing two very different countries in Europe. 

You are frontstage, when it comes to migration, we are not. 

We are from two totally different political families. And I don’t know if it is because of that, we have a very, very, very close and good corporation. 

And we know, that words are not enough, when we are talking about migration, and getting in control of our external borders. 

And maybe the reason why our cooperation is so good, as it is. Is because we are aligned with a majority of the Europeans. 

We cannot ensure the safety of our populations in Europe, if we are not in control of our external borders. It’s simply not possible. 

I just wanted to support everything, you have said about Ukraine. It is now up to Russia to prove, that they want the peace, and we need the 30 days ceasefire unconditional - as agreed on. 

And we need Russia to move forward.

What we are gathering on today, is migration. 

We have said very clearly together, that there are limits to how many people, Europa can take in. So, the number is important to recognize. 

We know of course, that nobody leaves their home and their countries, without at reason, and we also agree, that refugees should always get help, and they have to be protected. 

But at the same time, and I think everyone has to recognize this in Europe: the current system for asylum has been broken. 

It is now the smugglers, who are earning all the money. It is them, who are taking the decisions, instead of us politicians. 

And thousands of people risk their lives on very dangerous journeys coming to Europe. Meanwhile our populations are paying the price as well, because now we see the consequences of uncontrolled migration in our society. 

We need some new solutions.

We have to lower the influx of migrants to Europe. 

We have decided to lead this discussion in European union, and I have to say in the beginning of this corporation. 

It was not very easy

There were very few countries, and very few political leaders supporting our ideas. 

That is not the case anymore.

Now the majority is sitting around the same table, and now we see some very concrete courses from the commission, that is needed. 

But even though, we have to take the next steps. I would like to say that, of course many people, who have entered our countries, are living a peaceful and good life in our countries. 

They work, they educate themselves, they do not commit crimes. They are supporting our democracies, they are learning our language. 

But there is a big minority. For them it is a totally different story. 

I am especially worried about all the crimes, in Europe, committed by people coming from outside. And I have to be very frank, when I am saying, it is simply not okay. Entering one of our societies, and – with our hospitality – commit crimes against our countries, and our populations. This has to be stopped.

So, the reality we are working in now, as your democratic leaders, is that it is simply to difficult for us, to expel criminal foreign nationals from our societies. 

And I am pretty sure, that we talk on behalf of the big majority of Europeans, when we are saying: That this cannot go on. 

So, because of that, we have to look at how the European conventions, and the human rights is being translated into reality – that is number one. 

We have some of the best countries in the world, and our societies are shaped by our common values. 

Rule of law, human rights – we are a strong believer in them, as Georgia just said. 

We are also – both of us – strong believers in international rule-based order. 

We just wanted to underline this because, it will be very easy for people saying, well it’s because you don’t want conventions, and it is because you don’t support the rule of law. 

We are strong supporters of it, but at the same time, we have to be able to take political and democratic decisions, when it comes to our own societies. 

Therefore we have to be able to protect out own citizens from people coming from outside, not behaving in the way, that everybody should behave in our societies.

We need to make sure, that we have room nationally, to decide, who can stay in our countries. 

And this is why, we have written this letter, together with good colleagues. We are calling for at a new honest conversation about the conventions.

I look forward to continue out work.

And I think – how can I put it – we don’t have the time, because in almost all European countries the populations are saying, this has gone too far. 

The uncontrolled migration is not working in our everyday life. And we are on the same page as them, and therefore, we are willing to take new decisions, and to open new discussions between our two countries, but also with the rest of our colleagues in Europe.