Denmark is grappling with the complexities of international conventions, specifically the Citizenship Convention and the Human Rights Convention, amidst growing calls for reform and potential withdrawal. Conservative party leader Mona Juul criticizes Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen for focusing on the Human Rights Convention while allegedly neglecting the more easily addressable Citizenship Convention.

Juul argues that the Citizenship Convention, which Denmark acceded to in 2002, hinders the country’s ability to strip citizenship from serious gang criminals. She contends that withdrawing from this convention would be a straightforward solution, as other European nations have already done so.

The criticism arises despite the Social Democratic government’s efforts to amend legislation in 2021 to allow for the revocation of citizenship for dual citizens involved in serious gang crimes. However, according to the Director of Public Prosecutions, no gang members have lost their citizenship in recent years. This fuels the Conservative party’s argument that current measures are ineffective and a more decisive action, such as withdrawing from the Citizenship Convention, is necessary.

The government acknowledges the challenges posed by the Citizenship Convention. Minister for Immigration and Integration Kaare Dybvad Bek stated he is in “completely in agreement” with Mona Juul that there are “certain inconveniences with the Citizenship Convention” and said the government is working to challenge the narrow framework that the convention sets for being able to deprive criminal foreigners of their citizenship. He maintains that the government is actively addressing the issue through the convention ambassador’s work and ongoing discussions with European partners.

The broader context involves a growing European movement to challenge the European Court of Human Rights and the conventions that are perceived as obstructing stricter immigration policies. Denmark has joined eight other countries in criticizing the court’s interpretation of the Human Rights Convention. This has led to a national debate about the extent to which international conventions should dictate national policies, particularly in the areas of crime and immigration.

The debate centers around whether problems can be resolved within the existing framework of international conventions or whether complete withdrawal is necessary. The Conservative party advocates for withdrawal from the Citizenship Convention, arguing that the original intent of the convention did not account for the current challenges posed by criminal gang members obtaining citizenship.