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European Reintegration Networking |
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European Reintegration Networking |
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August 2002
Danish Refugee Council
Borgergade 10
DK-1002 Copenhagen
Tel: 0045-3373-5000
Fax: 0045-3393-8730
drc@drc.dk
www.flygtning.dk
Verfasser/in: Annette Colding
Chapter 1. Migrants in Denmark
Chapter 3. Programmes to promote return
Chapter 4. Recommendations / perspectives
General migration to Denmark was stopped in 1973. Since then Denmark has only granted residence permit in connection with applications for asylum and family reunification cases.On 1 January 2001 Denmark hosted approximately 80.000 foreign citizens from refugee countries and approximately 100.000 from immigrant countries. The total population in Denmark in year 2001 was about 5,3 million people.
When granted asylum in Denmark the refugees undertake a three years Integration Programme in one of the Danish municipalities including language training, vocational training etc. During this period the refugees are supported financially by the local municipalities.
In Denmark repatriation is considered a voluntary matter. For repatriation to be successful, it must be carefully prepared. A decision to return is never easy, but often a lengthy process for the individual who has to consider many aspects. It must be ensured that the decision is made on an as sound and well-informed basis as possible.
The current repatriation scheme gives refugees and immigrants the opportunity to apply for financial support towards resettlement in their native country or former country of residence and towards the costs of the journey. In addition the scheme contains a fixed-term right to regret for refugees.
On 2 June 1999, the Danish Parliament adopted the first Danish Act on Repatriation, which entered into force on 1 January 2000.
The overall purpose of the Repatriation Act is to give aliens residing in Denmark the best information possible in order to facilitate their decision on whether they should repatriate or not and to support such repatriation.
The law applies to refugees, aliens with residence permits on humanitarian grounds and immigrants, although some distinctions are made between them in terms of requirements and rights. Persons who have been reunited on the basis of family ties with an alien falling under one of these 3 categories are also included. Citizens of the Nordic and EU countries and the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) are explicitly excluded.
According to the Repatriation Act the main provisions of the new Act regarding counselling, financial support and right to return are described below.
Upon submission of an application by the alien, municipalities may grant repatriation benefits, the amount of which vary according to the alien’s own means.
These benefits include (2002 amounts):
payment of prescribed medicine brought from Denmark and limited to a 1-year consumption period.
In special cases, if one member of the family returns to the home country ahead of the others, the family members remaining in Denmark can be granted a housing benefit until they repatriate themselves. Such benefit is limited to a maximum period of 12 months.
Aliens who have come to Denmark on the basis of family reunification are entitled to repatriation benefits only if they repatriate together with the person, they were reunited with. However, this does not apply in case of divorce, death of the person, or if the person wishing to repatriate came to Denmark as a minor to be reunited with his/her parents.
Repatriation benefits can only be granted once.
Upon submission of an application, municipalities may grant a reintegration allowance, which is paid monthly for a maximum period of 5 years. This requires that the alien:
is over 65 years of age, or is over 55 years but is considered as not able to provide for him/herself, or has been granted a disability pension regardless his/her age.
The countries have been grouped according to purchasing power and the reintegration allowance’s monthly amount is for 2002:
Aliens who repatriate have the possibility to apply for a work within a development, reintegration or reconstruction project in their home country, if there are any. For this purpose, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs must inform the Danish Ministry of the Integration and the Danish Refugee Council of all new projects initiated by the Danish authorities in these countries.
An alien planning to return to his/her home country for a limited period of time in order to follow a training, attend a vocational course or for a “go-and-see” visit may, upon submission of an application to the municipality, receive social benefits during the period spent in the home country. Municipalities must require the opinion of the Danish Refugee Council before taking a decision on the application.
Refugees who have repatriated to their home country but wish to return to Denmark, are allowed to do so within a period of one year following the repatriation. Upon application, the initial 1-year period can be extended for another year.
Persons whose residence permit is based on family reunification with a refugee have also the right to return to Denmark within the first year following repatriation, provided, however, that this right is exercised along with the refugee him/herself.
Immigrants are not entitled to return to Denmark once they have repatriated.
Repatriates employing this right are obliged to pay all costs in connection with the return themselves.
If the repatriate returns to Denmark, the municipality may, in particular cases, require a pay back of all financial support. This is relevant mainly in cases, where the repatriate has not made a serious attempt or has given incorrect information.
Negative decisions by the municipalities can be brought before the Social Appeal Board. In principle, negative decisions by the Social Board cannot be further appealed, but the Social Appeal Board has the possibility, on its own initiative, to examine a case, which it considers as being of general importance.
The State reimburses 75% of the repatriation benefits and 100% of the reintegration allowance to the municipalities.
Between 1984 and 2001 a total number of 3201 refugees and immigrants have chosen to return to their countries of origin. As can be seen from the statistical overview below the number of returnees increased significantly in 1996, 1997 and 1998. This was mainly due to the high number of returning Bosnian refugees following the Dayton Peace Agreement.
The rise in the numbers of returnees during 2000 and 2001 could be seen as a result of the possibilities provided by the Repatriation Act.
Number of returnees between 1984-2001
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1984-90 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
Total |
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|
Afghanistan |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
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Algeria |
1 |
1 |
2 |
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Argentina |
48 |
5 |
53 |
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Armenian |
1 |
1 |
2 |
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Bahrain |
7 |
7 |
14 |
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Bolivia |
16 |
16 |
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Bosnia and Herzegovina |
115 |
113 |
506 |
321 |
187 |
73 |
123 |
101 |
1537 |
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Botswana |
1 |
1 |
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Brazilian |
2 |
2 |
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Bulgarian |
1 |
1 |
2 |
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Burundi |
5 |
1 |
6 |
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Chile |
140 |
8 |
23 |
18 |
4 |
12 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
217 |
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Congo |
1 |
1 |
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El Salvador |
3 |
1 |
4 |
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Eritrea |
1 |
1 |
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Ethiopia |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
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Philippines |
2 |
2 |
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F. Rep.Yugoslavia |
7 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
12 |
25 |
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Gambia |
1 |
1 |
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Ghana |
4 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
11 |
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Indian |
1 |
1 |
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Iraq |
10 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
30 |
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Iran |
189 |
86 |
48 |
27 |
23 |
28 |
24 |
9 |
7 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
470 |
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Israel |
1 |
1 |
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Kenya |
2 |
2 |
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China |
2 |
2 |
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Jordan |
1 |
1 |
2 |
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Kosovo |
8 |
31 |
19 |
58 |
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Croatia |
1 |
1 |
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Kuwait |
5 |
5 |
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Lebanon |
108 |
21 |
21 |
11 |
26 |
7 |
8 |
14 |
13 |
22 |
1 |
4 |
256 |
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Liberia |
5 |
5 |
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Libyan |
2 |
2 |
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Macedonian |
1 |
1 |
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Mozambique |
1 |
1 |
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Nigeria |
1 |
1 |
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Pakistan |
2 |
2 |
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Poland |
18 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
33 |
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Rumanian |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
9 |
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Russia |
3 |
3 |
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Slovakia |
10 |
10 |
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Somalia |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
10 |
23 |
7 |
45 |
47 |
141 |
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Sri Lanka |
10 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
20 |
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Sudan |
1 |
1 |
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South Africa |
1 |
1 |
7 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
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Syrian |
4 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
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Tanzania |
1 |
1 |
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Chad |
1 |
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Thailand |
1 |
1 |
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The Czech Republic |
6 |
1 |
7 |
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Czechoslovakia |
1 |
1 |
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Tunisian |
1 |
1 |
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Turkey |
8 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
31 |
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Uganda |
1 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
11 |
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1984-90 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
Total |
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Ukraine |
1 |
1 |
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Hungary |
2 |
2 |
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Uruguay |
126 |
6 |
1 |
133 |
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Vietnam |
6 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
19 |
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Egyptian |
3 |
3 |
1 |
7 |
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Total |
690 |
125 |
125 |
77 |
199 |
169 |
556 |
391 |
258 |
151 |
236 |
224 |
3201 |
The Danish Ministry of the Refugees, Immigrants and Integration (prior the Danish Ministry of Interior) is responsible for providing individual counselling to refugees and immigrants who wish to repatriate. The Ministry has entrusted the Danish Refugee Council with the task of providing such counselling. For this work the Danish Refugee Council receives a yearly lump sum from the Ministry.
The Danish Refugee Council’s repatriation unit counts a number of employees in Copenhagen, a repatriation consultant in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and for a time also an employee in Hargeisa, Somalia was attached.
The municipalities administer the financial part of the Danish Repatriation Act, while the Danish Refugee Council is responsible for advice and guidance and helps organise the return journey.
The counselling targets all aliens, however the Danish Refugee Council only receives requests from very few immigrants.
The counselling includes information regarding the consequences of the repatriation on the residence permit in Denmark and information concerning the situation in the home country. Further more the Danish Refugee Council makes practical arrangements for the repatriation (travel route) and can also provide assistance regarding for example passport issues, airport check, etc.
Whenever necessary, the Danish Refugee Council also assists aliens in their relations with the municipalities which are responsible for granting financial support towards repatriation. Such assistance includes contacts with the local authorities regarding individual cases as well as drafting, submission and follow-up of applications for financial support on the aliens’ behalf.
Those wishing to take advantage of the repatriation scheme can contact the Asylum Department of the Danish Refugee Council to arrange a time for a personal talk. Contacting the Danish Refugee Council carries no obligations and those who get in touch have not necessarily made a final decision.
The aim of the guidance and advice performed by the Danish Refugee Council is:
The personal talk with the Asylum Department is intended to assist the individual’s decision-making process and generally happens in collaboration with and as an adjunct to the local case worker’s advice.
The Asylum Department’s counsellors:
The Danish Refugee Council together with vocational institutions, organisations, municipalities and refugee associations are involved in various projects aiming at supporting repatriation and reintegration of returnees from Denmark.
It is important to notice that according to the Danish Repatriation Act repatriation is considered a voluntary matter and even though one participates in a project aiming at promoting return the participants are not obliged to return. Further more participants are allowed to regret repatriation within the rules stated in the Repatriation Act.
Since not many immigrants choose to repatriate or express a wish to return programmes to promote return are targeting refugees only.
With the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995 and the possibilities for some of the Bosnian refugees to return Denmark boosted it’s repatriation efforts.
The immediate projects focussed on refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina with the issue of providing information on the development in the country to the refugees in Denmark and supporting the reconciliation and democratisation process in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main objectives of these projects were to promote repatriation possibilities and establish networks and dialogue between the refugees and their fellow countrymen in the mother country in order to ease the reintegration of the eventual returnees and support reconciliation.
Both projects on reconciliation and on support of the democratisation process are continuing. However the variety of projects have been enlarged also to include projects targeting specific groups of refugees as for instance elderly people, projects providing vocational training and projects supporting specific aid in connection with reconstruction of housing and business premises.
Also other nationalities have been targeted i.e. Somali refugees and with the process of stabilisation of the situation in Afghanistan also the Afghan refugees in Denmark have proved interest in returning and implementing projects promoting repatriation to Afghanistan.
The Danish Refugee Council acts as a focal-point for the various repatriation projects and activities in Denmark and the following gives a brief description of the various projects which the Danish Refugee Council has been involved in or has knowledge of including the objectives, activities and protagonists of the projects related to nationalities.
As mentioned the Danish Refugee Council receives a yearly lump sum from the Danish Ministry of the Refugees, Immigrants and Integration. Apart from counselling and information this funding provides the Danish Refugee Council with resources for seeking additional funding for specific projects and for consultancy in connection with projects suggested and implemented by other organisations.
Between January 1996 and January 2002 the Danish Refugee Council published 42 editions of the newsletter ”Postar” to the Bosnian refugees in Denmark.
The aim of the newsletter was to provide relevant information to the refugees in Denmark supporting a qualified decision in relation to repatriation.
The newsletter covered the following subjects:
Certain issues contained selected articles on special themes e.g. the latest development of relevant legislation aspects. Such articles may be written by professionals from the refugee group. Sources of information were very often United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Office of the High Representative (OHR), Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and other organisations that are present in the country. In addition, many reports and newsletters from various NGOs, including our own material and Danish/Bosnian authorities were received and used if deemed relevant and reliable.
The activity was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
The Danish Refugee Council is running a telephone hot-line in Bosnian language. The hotline is open twice a week and managed by trained Bosnian speaking personal.
The activity was financed by the European Commission and is now financed by the Danish Ministry of Interior.
The Danish Refugee Council has been co-operating with the Bosnian local radios in Denmark providing relevant repatriation information to the refugees.
Between 1997 and 1999 the Danish Refugee Council was lead agency on a local radio co-operation project involving the Bosnian local radios in Denmark and a number of local broadcasters in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The objective of the project was to disseminate and exchange relevant information that could support the dialogue between the refugees and their fellow countrymen in Bosnia and Herzegovina and thus promote repatriation and ease the reintegration process for those who chose to return.
The activity was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
One of the first projects initiated by the Danish Refugee Council in connection with the repatriation effort related to the Bosnian refugees in Denmark was a setting up of vocational networks between educated Bosnian refugees and educated Bosnians from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The aim of the project was to establish an ongoing dialogue between professionals in exile and professionals in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to provide a continuing exchange of vocational experience.
The project included seminars in Denmark where the various professionals met i.e. doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, journalists and lawyers.
The project was funded by the Danish Ministry of Interior.
From 1996 to 1999 the Danish Refugee Council supported go-and-see visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina for individual Bosnian refugees who expressed a direct wish to repatriate. The issues of the go-and-see visits were to collect information on the situation in the mother country and the possibilities of return by the refugees themselves. The go-and-see visits also provided the participants with an opportunity to see with their own eyes their former home and to meet people who have either returned or who stayed home all the time. The participants in go-and-see visits were obliged to disseminate information to their fellow countrymen in Denmark. They gave interviews to the local refugee radios, held meetings with the various refugee associations, and wrote a report, which was presented in the Bosnian newsletter "Postar".
The go-and-see visits were funded by the Danish Ministry of Interior.
Between 1996 and 1998 the Danish Refugee Council organised a number of go and see visits including both refugees, pubic servants and social workers from various Danish municipalities. The objectives were to establish a dialogue between the refugees in Denmark and their fellow countrymen and to give the employees in the municipalities a picture and an understanding of the situation and development in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Danish Ministry of Interior funded the project.
In 1999 the Danish Refugee Council launched a project aiming at establishing a co-operation with the Bosnian refugee association representing Bosnian refugees from Bosanska Gradiska. The association had expressed intentions of playing an important role in repatriation and in the development of civil society and democracy in their country of origin. Two more associations, representing Bosnian refugees from Trebinje and Banja Luka joined in the project and the co-operations led to a minority conference in Denmark in November 1999 including representatives of the refugee associations, various NGOs and the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The issue of the conference was to open up for a dialogue and discuss the possibilities and obstacles in regard to minority return.
Following the seminar the Danish Refugee Council and representatives from the three refugee associations organised a reconnaissance tour to the three cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to follow up on the dialogue and the contacts, which were established during the seminar, and to examine the possibilities of minority return and establish further contacts in the three cities Trebinje, Banja Luka and Bosanska Gradiska all situated in Republica Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The reconnaissance tours provided possibilities for the refugees to meet with their fellow countrymen, talk to old neighbours and to relatives etc. Further more an official meeting was planned in advance in each city, where the refugees met with representatives of the municipalities and of the local governments and local representatives of the Office of the High Representative (OHR).
The activity was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
In close co-operation with a number of Danish municipalities the Danish Refugee Council has arranged three reconnaissance tours to cities situated in minority areas in Republica Srpska. Two in 2001 and one in 2002. The target group of these two trips was elderly Bosnian refugees. Further more a number of journalists and employees of the municipalities joined in the tours.
The objectives of the tours were to give the refugees an up to date view on the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a chance to visit their home towns, meet with their fellow countrymen, talk to old neighbours and to relatives etc. and examine the possibilities of return in order to support and qualify the decision regarding an eventual repatriation. The trips also provided the refugees with a possibility of contacting the local authorities regarding regaining of houses.
The employees of the Danish municipalities participated in the various meetings and thus supported the refugees claim on their property towards the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Following the tours the journalists published several articles in local as well as in national wide newspapers on the repatriation issue and on the many obstacles and challenges which the returnees face drawing the attention of the Danish readers to the many facetted and difficult decision of return.
The activity was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
The Danish Refugee Council has arranged a number of business school courses aiming at Bosnian refugees who seriously consider to set up their own business once they have repatriated.
The overall objectives of these courses are to help the participants to obtain the necessary knowledge and skills about the economic life and the conditions that prevails today in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to support the individual participants while developing and realising their individual business plans.
One of the courses was organised in co-operation with Bosnian Information and Business Centre, Malmø, Sweden and Larive-Bosnia D.D. (International Business Development), Bosnia and Herzegovina involving both refugees from Sweden and from Denmark.
The courses include an 8 weeks stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The first 3 weeks are actual training weeks and take place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here the participants are introduced to theoretical lectures led by professors and associates of the Faculty of Economics in Sarajevo alternating with practical sequences, visits to various firms, a short interstay in a running company etc. Finally the participants are asked to produce an individual business plan, including financial resources and timetable.
Furthermore the participants also meet with participants of the earlier business courses in order to learn and exchange experiences.
The other 5 weeks provide the participants possibilities of staying in their hometowns, get reacquainted with their mother country, commence the reintegration process and prepare starting a business
The early courses were financed by the European Commission, whereas the recent ones have been financed by the various Danish municipalities of the participants.
In 1999 The Danish Refugee Council carried through the project ”The Bosnian School for Accountants and Auditors” in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The project comprised a course, which qualified Bosnians staying in Denmark to manage accounting and auditing jobs in Bosnia and Herzegovina upon return.
The idea behind the project originated from a group of Bosnian economists living in Denmark who were planning to return to Bosnia and Herzegovina and from Sweden where the municipality of Stockholm has arranged a similar course for Bosnian economists living there.
The project was a co-operation between the Danish Refugee Council, Institute of Accounting and Auditing of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, The Swedish Immigration Service in Malmø, Sweden, Bosnian Business Service, Malmø, Sweden and the Danish Municipalities where the participants reside.
The course in Sarajevo lasted 4 weeks. The course was followed by a studybreak where the participants could prepare for the exam. The exam was held in Copenhagen. Two professors from the Institute of Accounting and Auditing of Bosnia and Herzegovina were external examinators. In addition to the course in Sarajevo all participants have received repatriation counselling from the Danish Refugee Council, just as the Danish Refugee Council followed up on the participants and others who were involved in the project on an on-going basis.
The activity was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
In 1997 the Nordic countries implemented a co-project aiming at supporting repatriation and reconstruction primarily in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The project provided possibilities for a number of Bosnian refugees holding specific relevant vocational backgrounds to go back and participate in the reconstruction work and at the same time examine the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to an eventual repatriation.
The participants were allowed to return to the host country within a period of one year.
The Danish Refugee Council offered advice and information to the Bosnians in Denmark and the International Organisation for Migration handled travel arrangements.
The project included Bosnian refugees in Denmark, Norway and Sweden and was financed by the three countries.
The ADC-Mostar initiative started in 1997 when the Danish Agricultural Advisory Centre, Boruplund initiated the idea of establishing a “sister”- developing agricultural centre in Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The target group included both residents of Bosnian and Herzegovina and returnees. The objective was to provide an up-to-date agricultural education and training and thus support the development and expansion of Bosnian agriculture.
The research was funded by the Danish Foreign Ministry and included contact to Bosnian authorities, agricultural schools and finding premises.
However, due to lack of further funding, the project has not yet been implemented.
In 1999 AOF-Ølgod Training Centre initiated a training project targeting Bosnian refugees in Denmark. The aim of the project was to assist and advice refugees, who wish to return to Bosnia and Herzegovina. The main objective was to work towards a total solution for the individual refugee by trying to solve or support a solution to a number of fundamental problems i.e. grounds for subsistence, housing, personal documentation, children’s reintegration and re-establishing of the social network.
The project was executed over a period of eleven months and included:
The project was financed by the European Union and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
It is a fact that a great number of the elderly and sick Bosnian refugees living in Denmark do not thrive and their integration into the Danish society is very limited. They have a strong desire to return. However, some of them do not have a home to return to or relatives to take care of them which makes it virtually impossible for them to repatriate.
With this in mind, the Danish Refugee Council initiated a project targeting this specific group.
The turning point of the project was a rest home in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina with a view to accommodate this particular vulnerable group.
The project included a reconstruction of the rest home, preparation of 20 elderly refugees and vocational training of a number of younger Bosnian refugees with a relevant background and experience which qualify them for employment at the rest home.
Furthermore a priority of the project was to establish a co-operation between municipalities in Denmark and Bosnia and Herzegovina and also a vocational co-operation between institutions in Denmark and Bosnia and Herzegovina so that training could be followed up upon.
The activity was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
In 2000 The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched a project aiming at return and reintegration of elderly Bosnian refugees from the Nordic countries.
The project targeted elderly Bosnians returning to the surrounding areas of Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Prijedor and Mostar.
The project provided individual assistance tailored to assist the participants' particular needs and each returnee was linked up with a personal and professional help in connection with legal and social assistance requirements upon arrival. The IOM assisted with travel arrangements and either the host country in Scandinavia or the IOM provided a social welfare benefit. Furthermore the elderly returnees were also granted certain healthcare services.
The Danish Refugee Council offered advice and information to the elderly Bosnians in Denmark and the Danish part of the project was financed by the Danish Ministry of Interior.
In 2000 the Danish Refugee Council launched a new project targeting a number of Bosnian refugees who had expressed an interest for repatriation, but who needed specific support i.e. rebuilding of houses, rebuilding of workshops or garages or professional equipment in order to start a private business.
Most of the ones identified were refugees who had participated in the vocational training courses in Bosnia and Herzegovina and now wished to realise their acquired business plan and return. However, based on the provision of a reintegration allowance stated in the Repatriation Act, also many elderly refugees have been involved in this project.
The Danish Refugee Council evaluated each individual case and together with the refugees the houses or the business premises were rebuild or established. The project is still running and until now 55 families have gained support through this project.
In connection with participation in the project a contract is made up stating that if the participant chooses to return to Denmark and regrets repatriation the financial support must be reimbursed.
The project is financed by the Danish Foreign Ministry.
In 1996, shortly after the signing of the Dayton Peace agreement the Danish Municipality of Holmegård and the Municipality of Kljuc, Bosnia and Herzegovina initiated a return project targeting a number of refugees from Kljuc living in Holmegård.
The point of departure of the project was to provide housing for the eventual returnees by moving portable houses from Denmark to Kljuc, Bosnia and Herzegovina. These houses had been used as premises for the refugees during their pre-asylum phase in Denmark. The co-operation between Holmegård and Kljuc developed and the two municipalities implemented a project aiming at supporting the reintegration and vocational training of both the returnees and the inhabitants of Kljuc.
The project included courses in English and IT and was mainly aimed at women acknowledging the fact the many men had been killed during the war. In connection with the IT-course the Danish Ministry of Interior donated a large number of computers and the Danish Corporation “Kommunedata” provided training.
Furthermore the project included a democratisation course introducing the participants to “The Danish Model”. The project involved a number of public servants and teachers from Kljuc who visited Denmark in order to get aquainted with Danish democracy and practises.
The project was financed by the European Commission, the Danish Ministry of Interior and the Danish Foreign Ministry.
In 1999 Denmark evacuated a number of refugees from Kosovo. 2.855 mainly elderly and sick persons, whole families and people with family ties in Denmark were offered a temporary residence permit according to the specific “Kosovo Act” in Denmark.
The “Kosovo Act” which covered the evacuees from Kosovo went into force on April 1999 and was repealed on the 26. May 2000. Leaving the evacuees either to apply for asylum or to return to Kosovo.
Until the “Kosovo-act” was repealed a number of evacuees had returned voluntary to their mother country. With the repealment more had to return when they were not granted residence permit in Denmark.
In order to provide for these returnees the Danish Immigration Service and the Danish Red Cross launched a large repatriation scheme involving both the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
According to the “Kosovo Act” the evacuees were allowed to seek financial support in connection with their return. The support followed the regulations of the general Danish Repatriation Act, but allowed for only three months' regret period and only for those holding a residence permit upon return. The evacuees who had not been granted asylum or residence permit were granted financial support if they chose to return voluntary, but were not allowed a regret period.
The IOM took care of transportation and received the returnees in the airport of Pristina, Kosovo, the Danish Immigration Service took care of legal matters and the Danish Red Cross provided advice and guidance and practical help to the returnees.
Of the 2.855 refugees who were evacuated to Denmark and granted temporary residence permit according to the “Kosovo Act” 1.925 have returned with financial support to Kosovo. 50 have left Denmark involuntary, some gained asylum in Denmark, some have gained a temporary protection residence permit.
The over all aim of the project was to support adult education, voluntary return and reintegration of independent businessmen (“small entrepreneurs”) from Kosovo, residing in EU countries.
The project was initiated in 2000 and was a co-operation between The International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and four EU countries (Austria, Germany, Sweden and Denmark).
The objective was to identify 60 small entrepreneurs who were interested in returning to Kosovo from their host countries and enabling them so that they could successfully return. From Denmark 9 persons participated.
The issue was to motivate and help refugees from Kosovo – permanently residing in Denmark - to return voluntarily to Kosovo by enabling them to establish own business in their home country and support their families.
The Danish Refugee Council promoted and organised the project in Denmark, selecting participants and offering individual advice and guidance in connection with return.
The project was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
During the last couple of years the Somali refugees in Denmark have begun to show an interest in returning to their home country. With this growing interest the Danish Refugee Council boosted its repatriation information and effort towards the Somali communities in Denmark. Much of the initiatives like information projects, projects supporting the dialogue, go-and-see visits targeting the Bosnian refugees were used but also adjusted to the Somali refugee group. Also the Somali themselves began to initiate and implement projects aiming at creating possibilities for return, promote repatriation and ease the reintegration process for those who choose to return.
Between march 1998 and January 2002 the Danish Refugee Council published 23 editions of the newsletter ”Wargeys” to the Somali refugees in Denmark.
As with the Bosnian newsletter “POSTAR” the aim of the Somali newsletter was to provide relevant information to the refugees in Denmark supporting a qualified decision in relation to repatriation.
The newsletter covered the following subjects:
The activity was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
The Danish Refugee Council has been running a telephone hot-line in Somali language. The hotline was open twice a week and managed by trained Somali speaking personal.
The activity was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
The Danish Refugee Council has been co-operating with the Somali local radios in Denmark providing relevant repatriation information to the refugees.
In 2000 The Danish Refugee Council and the Somali radios established a web-site providing information on the radios, including audiofiles. The aim of the Internet project was to establish a co-operation between the Somali radios in Denmark and broadcasters in Somali in order to exchange information.
The activity was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
Both in 1999 and in 2000 the Danish Refugee Council’s funding from the Danish Ministry of Interior provided a possibility of supporting go and see visits to Somalia. Focusing on supporting refugees who express a direct wish to repatriate the issue of the go-and see visits is to provide information on the situation in the mother countries and the possibilities of return to the refugees in Denmark by the refugees themselves. The point of departure is that the refugees in Denmark seem to have great trust in information given by their own people.
Accordingly one of the obligations that the participants in go-and-see visits hold are to disseminate information to their fellow countrymen in Denmark. They are asked to give interviews to the local refugee radios, contact and arrange meetings with the various refugee associations, to write a report and finally to present an article to the Somali newsletter "Wargeys".
The activity was financed by the European Commission and the Danish Ministry of Interior.
The Danish Ministry of Interior has initiated two conferences regarding repatriation to Somalia in 2000 and 2001. The issue of the conferences was to establish a dialogue between the Somali communities and organisations in Denmark and the Ministry and exchange ideas and possibilities regarding various repatriation projects. Furthermore these conferences provided a picture of the activities of the Somali organisations in relation to repatriation and the general wish to repatriate and the need for information on the situation in Somalia and the need for support among the Somalis.
The conferences were financed by the Danish Ministry of Interior.
The conference took place in Stockholm in June 2002. The objective was to discuss how to transfer qualifications and resources from Somalis in diaspora to Somalia. The conference focussed on security, health, life subsistence and education.
The discussions were based on the Somalis’ own suggestions and views on how to transfer qualifications in order to support the development in Somalia and create better possibilities of return.
The conference was funded by the Governments in the Nordic Countries.
In the spring 2001 the Danish Immigration Service, the Danish Refugee Council and representatives of the Somali communities in Denmark arranged and realised a visit to Denmark by a delegation from Somalia. This delegation counted 5 people representing various Somali organisations e.g. women’s organisations and human rights organisations. The issue of the visit was to provide the Somalis in Denmark with a picture of the development in Somalia and the possibilities of return. The delegation travelled around Denmark meeting the Somali refugees at open conferences where experiences were exchanged and the Somalis in Denmark learned about the situation in Somalia and the delegation learned about the refugees’ situation in Denmark.
The activity was financed by the Danish Ministry of Interior
In 1999 a number of Somali families residing in Sweden founded an association aiming at preparing repatriation and reintegration. The idea was to buy a piece of land in the Northern part of Somalia (Somaliland) and establish a community for the returnees. The network spread rapidly to Somalis in the UK, Denmark and Norway and Somscan now counts seven Somali associations from the four countries and includes a total number of 330 Somali families. The organisation’s head office is placed in Copenhagen.
In 2000 representatives of Somscan travelled to Somaliland in order to examine the possibilities of return. Following the trip the 330 families decided to buy a piece of land just outside Burao – the second largest town in Somailland. The site is desolated with neither water or electricity so the returnees have to start from scratch. Now Somscan has etablished contact to the local authorities in the area and is working on watersupply. Later supply of electricity and building of houses will follow.
Recently Somscan and the Danish Refugee Council have applied the European Commission for
funding for a continuation of the project, water drilling and rebuilding and increase of primary and secondary school capacity in the area.
In 1997 a group of Somali refugees together with Labour Market Network of Aarhus municipality initiated a voluntary repatriation project. The project aims to introduce a mechanism that helps the process of voluntary repatriation of the Somali refugees in Denmark, using income generating activities with tools and methods based on the reality on the ground (Somalia).
Looking into possibilities of creating a meaningful voluntary repatriation programme to Somalia, pre-feasibility missions went to northern parts of Somalia (Somaliland and Puntland) in November 1998 and February 2001 to investigate if it at all was feasible for refugees to return, and to look into possibilities for the establishment of a voluntary repatriation project within fishery and agriculture. In relation to the findings of the first mission it was recommended that the project would limit its scope to concentrate on fishery.
On the basis of the second mission a skeleton of the project’s programme was formulated, which contains a preparation and back-up programme in Denmark as well as a project within the fishery sector in the northern parts of Somalia (Somaliland and possibly Puntland).
The back-up programme will include the preparation and education of the people before they resettle and reintegrate, and establish possible backup activities in Denmark. While the project's will aim at creating meaningful employment opportunities for the returning refugees as well as for the communities in which they will be settled.
At the moment over 66 families from the Somali refugees mainly from Aarhus and Aalborg municipalities are officially registered to be the first beneficiaries of the project. On the other hand, the authorities of the autonomous region of Northwest Somalia (Somaliland) had fully endorsed the project and promised its collaboration with the project implementation.
As far as the projects funding is considered, it has not yet received any kind of funding for its implementation but has received funding for the pre-feasibility missions from the Danish Ministry of Interior and the Danish Refugee Council.
The Homecoming course 2002 is based on a group of Somali refugees living in Esbjerg, Denmark.
Together with the refugees the Danish organisation Care4You has worked out a repatriation scheme that will support the refugees' reintegration in their home countries and provide confidence in their ability to overcome economic and social obstacles.
The project offers intensive and goal oriented instructions in small trade- and business enterprises, such as: Sewing and garment making, alternative energy, farming, commercial fishing and subsequent processing of products such as milk, butter, cheese. The contents of the courses are planned in co-operation with the participants and accordingly include topics, which the participants feel strongly motivated to pursue.
The participants will be familiar with the modern tools and opportunities in the chosen trade or occupation and the programme guides them based on the individuals own ideas and advice in order to ensure a successful homecoming.
The project is funded by the European Commission, Care4You, the Danish Ministry of Interior and the municipality of Esbjerg.
Recently the project has received funding from the Danish Ministry of Refugees, Immigrants and Integration for a pre-feasibility mission to Somalia this autumn 2002.
Following the peace agreement in Afghanistan and the instalment of the interim government the Afghans in Denmark began to show a growing interest in returning to their mother country.
During the spring 2002 a few Afghan refugees contacted the Danish Refugee Council in order to receive repatriation support. The Danish Refugee Council in co-operation with the Danish Centre for Human Rights thus initiated an Afghan network in Denmark.
The issue was to establish contact to the Afghan communities in Denmark in order to disseminate repatriation relevant information.
The Danish Centre for Human Rights focuses on the educated Afghans in Denmark and the issue is to establish a dialogue between the Afghans in Denmark and their countrymen in Afghanistan in order to support the democratisation process in Afghanistan and promote return.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has been initiating a project targeting Afghan refugees in the Scandinavian countries. The aim of the project “Return of Qualified Nationals” (RQN) is to provide temporary jobs in Afghanistan for exiled educated Afghans and thus support the development of the Afghan society and promote repatriation. The Danish Refugee Council has been involved in this project, disseminating information and giving advice to those who participate in the project.
Denmark is not engaged in any involuntary return programmes. In case of a rejection of an asylum application the police will assist in practical matters regarding travel arrangements etc. and the Danish State will pay the return fare.
During recent years Denmark has experienced a growing positive attitude and awareness of the repatriation issue both in the Danish society in general and in the local communities. Several organisations, institutions, municipalities and refugee communities are involved in the work and repatriation is now considered as an option for the individual, whether to day or in the future.
As can be seen from the previous chapters this development is mirrored in the variety of projects and activities and in the number of protagonists.
Especially the local municipalities have showed much co-operativeness and interest in the different projects implemented by the Danish Refugee Council. For instance the Danish municipalities have supported the participants in connection with the vocational training courses and also several municipalities are actively involved in the elderly people projects.
A decision to repatriate is not an easy decision taken over night nor is it just a matter of a one-way ticket out of Denmark. The element of time and the possibility of a thorough preparation are crucial for the “may-be returnee”.
It has proved to be of great value to be able to provide continuity in repatriation activities and projects. Thus supporting a qualification of the decision and the returnees’ ability to reintegrate and become self-supporting in their home countries.
In connection with the development and the boosting of the repatriation effort the Danish Refugee Council has participated in and performed several evaluations covering both individual projects and the effort as a whole. These evaluations have proved that it is important that repatriation projects are established on the basis of the refugees’ needs and as a result of an ongoing co-operation and information effort.
The situation in the mother country must also be taken into account, both in relation to security and in relation to the possibilities of establishing a life. The direct meeting between the refugees in exile and their fellow countrymen, both ordinary citizens and authorities has proved to be of great value, since it opens up for establishing an ongoing dialogue which is crucial for building bridges and gaining a mutual understanding that supports the reconciliation process.
The possibility for the refugees to meet with their fellow countrymen, talk to old neighbours, friends and relatives provides a personal impression of the situation in ones own town and of the atmosphere in the home country in general and must be reckoned as a very valuable mean to qualifying the decision to repatriate.
Repatriation projects, whether they be job-preparatory courses focussing on establishing a dialogue or aimed at specific vulnerable groups, must be given sufficient time to develop in order to prove successful and allow for readjustments to the situation in the mother country.
Repatriation involves all aspects of life i.e. job, housing, education, social security, network etc.
Based on the experiences with the various projects there can be little doubt that the possibility of implementing comprehensive projects, which mirrors the many facetted decision of repatriation and establishing co-operation with various partners both national and transnational within the refugee field is crucial for the support and promotion of voluntary repatriation.
Agricultural Advisory Centre, Boruplund
Gammelstrupvej 3
8831 Loegstrup
Denmark
Pho. + 45 86 64 48 44
e-mail: Boruplund@mail.tele.dk
Bosnian Association, Denmark
Hajdin Omerovic
Nørrevold 30
4900 Nakskov
Denmark
Pho. + 45 54 95 41 54
Care 4 You Association
Nørre Allé 7
2200 Copenhagen N
Denmark
Pho. + 45 32 52 33 02
e-mail: ann.schmidt@get2net.dk
Danish Immigration Service
Ryesgade 53
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Denmark
Pho. + 45 35 36 66 00
e-mail: udlst@udlst.dk
www.udlst.dk
Danish Ministry of the Refugees, Immigrants and
Integration
Holbergsgade 4
1057 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Pho. + 45 33 92 33 80
e-mail: inm@inm.dk
www.inm.dk
Danish Refugee Council
Borgergade 10, 3.
Postbox 53
1002 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Pho. + 45 33 73 50 00
e-mail: drc@drc.dk
www.flygtning.dk
Danish Centre for Human Rights
Wilders Plads 8 H
1403 Copenhagen K
Denmark
Pho. + 45 32 69 88 88
e-mail: center@humanrights.dk
www.humanrights.dk
Local Government in Denmark
Gyldenløvesgade 11
1600 Copenhagen V
Denmark
Pho. + 45 33 70 33 70
e-mail: kl@kl.dk
www.kl.dk
Somali Scandinavian Association
Ali Ibrahim Mohamed
Pakkevej 36, 1.mf.
9400 NørreSundby
Pho. + 45 23 70 38 28
Aarhus Kommune
Jørn Melgaard
Arbejdsmarkedsnetværk, Arosgaarden
Aaboulevarden 23, 3.
8000 Aarhus
Denmark
Pho. + 45 89 40 68 00
e-mail: jme@soc.aarhus.dk
www.amnet.dk
Ølgod, Business School
Monika Gunderlund
Skolegade 35 b
5300 Kerteminde
Pho. +45 22 94 96 01 / 65 32 44 71
e-mail: moniska51@hotmail.com
Peter Søby
Pho. +45 40 17 39 80
e-mail: psoby31@hotmail.com
The Danish
Ministry of Refugees, Immigrants and Integration, 2001.
Refugee countries: Afghanistan Ethiopia, F. Rep. Yugoslavia,
Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Rumanian, Somalia, and Vietnam. Including
stateless refugees.
Immigrant countries: Countries not belonging to the Northern
countries, the European Union, North America or refugee
countries.
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