A comprehensive integration initiative – and better integration
In 1999, Denmark was the first country in the world to introduce an Integration Act. The Act is intended to ensure that newly-arrived refugees and immigrants can make the most of their capacities on an equal footing with other citizens of Denmark.
All refugees and immigrants are therefore offered free teaching of Danish for three years.
Refugees and immigrants are also offered employment-promoting options such as qualification improvement and work experience. These integration options are tailored to the needs of the individual refugee or immigrant. The local authorities may obtain advice and guidance on how to organise the integration activities from the Ministry of Integration.
It is the aim of the Government that 25,000 more immigrants and descendants should be employed by 2010.
In May 2005, the Government therefore launched the integration plan 'A New Chance for Everyone', which has now been approved by a majority of the Danish Parliament.
'A New Chance for Everyone' comprises initiatives concerned with such matters as local efforts towards integration, education and employment.
The Government is supporting a broad range of integration-promoting activities, which are being implemented under both public and private auspices. As an example may be mentioned the campaign 'All Young People Needed', which is intended to motivate ethnic youth to engage in and complete a relevant education, partly by using role models.
Progress towards integration is being made in several areas:
Between 2001 and 2004, employment rose by about 15,000 among immigrants and descendants originating from non-Western countries. This figure is based on register data from Statistics Denmark. An interview survey carried out by the Institut for Konjunktur-Analyse shows that 76% of the private enterprises which have employed 'new Danes' have positive experiences. The equivalent figure for public workplaces is 79%.
The proportion of immigrants and descendants originating from non-Western countries that has completed a Danish qualifying education has increased between 2001 and 2004, and young ethnics are now more often engaged in upper secondary education or further education than before. This information is based on register data from Statistics Denmark.
An interview survey carried out by the analysis bureau Catinét Research shows that more immigrants and descendants have Danish friends. In the first half-year report of 2001, 39% of about 1,000 immigrants and
descendants interviewed had mainly Danish friends or just as many Danish friends as friends with a foreign background. Four years later this proportion had increased to 54%.