Earlier this year, support for 21 integration initiatives was cut from Denmark's state budget before being reinstated following heavy pressure from the opposition. Now, the new state budget for 2025 outlines a reduction in support to integration projects run by NGOs, with the money - 27.9 million DKK (3.7 million EUR) - being allocated instead to the national prison service. 

State funding for integration projects was previously promised as part of a political 4-year deal from 2021, with integration intiatives taking this into account when budget forecasting. Many of these initiatives - several of which have been featured as good practices on EWSI - now face an insecure future.

Those affected include the KVINFOs Mentor Network, which supports migrant women in the labour market, the Church Integration Project, which trains volunteers to support local refugee families, and Sabaah, which supports LGBT+ individuals with an ethnic minority background. Also affected is the Danish Refugee Council (DRC). Kenneth Flex, director of DRC Integration, said: “Our organisations work to prevent honour related conflict, negative social control and parallel societies. All those things that the government is very concerned about. We prevent radicalisation, conflicts and mental problems. If we no longer do it, no one else will do it”.

Helene Liliendahl Brydensholt, MP for The Alternative Party, highlighted the fact that integration-focused organisations “are taking on a huge responsibility for society. In the end, it becomes more expensive if these integration efforts are not being carried out”.