Key points: Former Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen says Denmark’s 2018 “ghetto laws” cut crime and promoted integration by targeting neighbourhoods with over 50% “non‑Western” residents, tightening penalties and mandating daycare for language and civic education. The measures face an ECJ challenge from tenants and NGOs alleging discrimination. While controversial, the policies have influenced debate abroad and coincide with a rise in legal international workers who now contribute about 361bn DKK (≈£43bn), roughly 12% of GDP.
Denmark’s Migration Blueprint: How Lars Løkke Rasmussen Rewrote the Rules
Key points: Former Danish prime minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen says Denmark’s 2018 “ghetto laws” cut crime and promoted integration by targeting neighbourhoods with over 50% “non‑Western” residents, tightening penalties and mandating daycare for language and civic education. The measures face an ECJ challenge from tenants and NGOs alleging discrimination. While controversial, the policies have influenced debate abroad and coincide with a rise in legal international workers who now contribute about 361bn DKK (≈£43bn), roughly 12% of GDP.
04:22 PM, 11/17/2025Politics
Denmark’s Migration Blueprint: How Lars Løkke Rasmussen Rewrote the Rules
Denmark’s stringent migration laws have made the country a point of reference in Europe, according to the politician who helped design them. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the former prime minister and now foreign minister in a centre-Left coalition, says the measures reduced crime, improved integration and blunted the rise of the hard right.
“If you compare, for instance, Denmark and Sweden — if you look at the problems, if you look at the crime statistics — we are in much, much better shape,” Rasmussen said.
Beginning in the early 2000s, Denmark pursued a tougher migration approach than many European neighbours: refugee criteria were tightened, family reunification restricted, and new arrivals were required to demonstrate a clear attachment to Danish society. In 2018 Rasmussen introduced the widely debated so-called “ghetto laws,” a package of measures aimed at disrupting concentrated disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
What the "ghetto laws" do
The 2018 measures targeted neighbourhoods where more than 50% of residents were classified as "non-Western" under Danish rules. Municipalities were required to reduce concentrations of social housing, and the legislation raised penalties for certain crimes while introducing mandatory daycare programmes intended to accelerate children's language acquisition and exposure to what the government described as "Danish values."
The laws also included provisions to cut or limit welfare benefits for some new arrivals. Supporters argue these tools were intended to "regain control" of migration and integration challenges; critics say the policies are discriminatory and stigmatise entire communities.
Legal challenge, political ripple effects
Non-governmental organisations and residents have strongly criticised the rhetoric and some practices. Tenants from Mjølnerparken have lodged a complaint at the European Court of Justice (ECJ), arguing that evictions and measures amount to unlawful discrimination on the basis of ethnicity. The ECJ is expected to rule on whether the laws breach EU anti-discrimination rules.
Despite controversy, the approach has influenced politics beyond Denmark. Labour in the UK and other centre-Left parties have studied Denmark’s experience as an example of how a progressive government can adopt tougher migration policies while retaining broad electoral support. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has reportedly signalled plans to announce a British policy drawing on similar ideas.
Practical impact and related measures
During the 2015 migration wave, Denmark accepted far fewer asylum claims than some neighbours, notably Sweden. Rasmussen has pointed to rising gang activity and violent incidents across the border in Sweden as part of the contrast between the two countries’ experiences.
At the same time, Denmark has expanded legal migration for skilled and international workers: the number of international workers has roughly doubled in recent years, contributing an estimated 361 billion DKK (£43bn), or about 12% of GDP. Rasmussen argues that orderly migration is necessary for economic growth and that controlling flows helps maintain public support for open societies.
Other notable measures
Denmark’s 2016 so-called "jewellery law" permits police to search arriving migrants and seize cash, jewellery and other valuables above a set threshold (currently 10,000 DKK, roughly £1,200) to help cover housing and food costs. Items of clear sentimental value — for example, wedding and engagement rings — are exempt, while watches, phones and computers may be taken if they exceed the threshold.
Rasmussen has said Denmark will respect the ECJ’s eventual ruling but has also worked with other European Council nations to influence debate on asylum reform. He framed the reforms as pragmatic tools intended to lower social tensions and restore integration prospects, while critics view them as punitive and exclusionary.
Context and balance: The story remains contested. Supporters point to reduced crime statistics and stronger integration metrics in some areas; opponents and legal challengers warn of discrimination, social disruption and the erosion of rights. As the ECJ decision approaches and other countries consider similar policies, Denmark’s experiment will continue to shape European migration debates.