Statsministerens tale til FN i Marrakech

Statsminister Lars Løkke Rasmussen deltager i FN-konferencen om migration i Marrakesh, hvor FN’s migrationserklæring ”Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration” vedtages politisk. 

Inden afrejsen udtalte statsministeren:

”FN-erklæringen er et symbol på, om man vil være en del af det internationale samfund eller ej, og jeg er glad for, at et bredt flertal i Folketinget i forbindelse med debatten i onsdags signalerede klar opbakning til, at Danmark tilslutter sig erklæringen. Grænseoverskridende problemer kræver grænseoverskridende samarbejde – ikke isolation. Jeg er som statsminister ikke i tvivl om på hvilken side af stregen, Danmark skal befinde sig.” 

”Erklæringen er en vigtig løftestang til at presse på for, at andre lande lever op til deres forpligtelser bl.a. på tilbagetagelsesområdet. 
Det er vigtigt at slå fast, at erklæringen ikke er juridisk bindende, ikke skaber ny lov i Danmark og, vigtigst af alt, ikke fratager os suverænitet over udlændingeområdet. Derfor er jeg også initiativtager til at samle ligesindede lande i en stemmeforklaring, der slår fast, at vi fortsat er herre i eget hus, når erklæringen bliver endeligt vedtaget i New York.”

Herunder kan statsministerens tale på engelsk:

Statsministerens tale ved den mellemstatsligekonference  om migration i Marrakesh d. 10. december 2018

(Det talte ord gælder)

Excellencies,

Distinguished ministers,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I would like to thank Morocco for generously hosting this high-level conference. 

Denmark firmly believes in the value of international cooperation between sovereign states. For many decades, Denmark has been a trusted partner of the United Nations. Deeply engaged in humanitarian and development work.

This conference addresses the growing phenomenon of migration. In our globalized world,migration is in urgent need of better management. 

Historically, migration has been a vehicle of prosperity around the world. 

Only 3.4 % of the world’s population is migrants. And yet they produce 9.4 % of global GDP. But a shady side of migration has been growing recently. Millions of migrant workers live and work under horrible conditions in many parts of the world. 

And irregular migrants set out on deadly journeys to cross the Mediterranean. 

Only to waste years of their lives. In a limbo in Europe. With no legal right to stay. And with no future.

We do not encourage this.

These are lives that deserve better. 

That is why we believe the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is both timely and needed. 

That is why we support the Global Compact as a non-legally binding, cooperative framework. 

Cross-border problems need cross-border solutions. 

We all realize this.

Migrants – who have been invited – must be treated fairly and well. In all countries.

While irregular migrants – who have no legal right to stay – must be effectively and safely readmittedto their home countries.

Let there be no doubt: 

Every human being has human rights. But migration is not a human right. 

And migration can never be unchecked oruncontrolled.

Cooperation in the United Nations has always rested on national sovereignty. 

National sovereignty – including over migration policies – is a fundamental premise, which this Global Compact will uphold.

Borders must be respected. 

Peoples must be respected. 

And therefore – migration needs to be managed. 

This is what we have come today to decide.

If we fail to stop irregular migration together. If we fail to regain control. We risk that peoples around the world will turn their back on international cooperation. We cannot allow this to happen.

As leaders, we need to listen and take action. 

Denmark has for 40 consecutive years devoted 0.7 % of our GDP to contribute to development in the poorest parts of the world. To ensure that people can see a future for themselves in their own communities. In their own countries.

We live up to our commitments. And we expect others to live up to their commitments, too.

The Global Compact provides a clear and universal confirmation of States’ obligation to readmit their own nationals. We expect this commitment to be upheld.

During the adoption in the UN General Assembly in New York, we will deliver an explanation of position clarifying our reading of a number of central elements in the document.

We expect to be able to deliver this explanation of position together with other countries.

In our explanation of position, we will acclaim that the Global Compact is a non-legally binding framework. 

That it does not in any way create new legal obligations for States. Nor does it seek to establish international customary law or further interpret existing treaties of national obligations.

We will also acclaim that the Global Compact respects the sovereignty of States and reaffirms the sovereign right of States to determine their national immigration policy and laws.

We will further note that the Compact does not create any new legal categories of migrants or associated benefits. And that the Compact reaffirmsthe legal and practical distinction between refugees and migrants.

The Compact will also in no way restrict or curtail already well-established human rights, including the right to freedom of expression. 

Finally, we will confirm that the list of actions under each commitment constitute examples which may contribute to the implementation of the Compact. But it will be up to each State to decide how and whether to draw from these examples.

Let me reiterate our support for the Compact as a good framework for international cooperation to manage migration in an orderly way

Thank you very much.