Denmark joins 32 European countries in pledge to combat illegal migration

Denmark has signed a joint declaration with 32 other European nations to strengthen efforts against “illegal migration,” according to a report by Danish broadcaster DR.

The agreement was reached during a meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Armenia’s capital, Yerevan, where leaders from 33 countries—including France, Germany, the UK, and Italy—committed to a coordinated approach to migration challenges.

The declaration builds on discussions from a previous EPC summit in Copenhagen, where leaders identified key areas for action, such as targeting human smugglers, improving legal frameworks, accelerating deportations, forming new partnerships, and addressing migration in its early stages. The countries also emphasized the need for mutual support in these efforts.

With displacement crises in Sudan, the Horn of Africa, and the Middle East, the signatories stressed the importance of preparedness to avoid a repeat of the 2015 migration crisis. The agreement includes cooperation on surveillance, security, and returns, as well as humanitarian aid in partnership with organizations like the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

Notably absent from the list of signatories is Spain, traditionally seen as more open to migration. The Nordic countries of Sweden, Norway, and Finland have also joined the initiative.