Danish parliament adopts law on carrier liability

The Danish parliament passed on Friday a carrier liability law to cope with the influx of refugees.

The carrier liability law, based on which the major transport operators would carry out ID checks on foreigners traveling to Denmark in case of temporary border controls, was adopted with 77 votes in favor, 24 against.

The law also includes a provision to fine transport companies that do not comply with the new requirements.

"It is not because I want that we should introduce carrier liability. But we can get in a situation where it becomes necessary, for example, if the Swedes introduce carrier liability," said Denmark's Minister for Integration Inger Stoejberg.

She emphasized that the law applies only if Denmark introduces temporary border controls.

Meanwhile, the minister did not rule out that it may also be necessary for Denmark to temporarily introduce border controls, saying "it is something that the government follows very closely."

The Swedish government imposed temporary border controls in November and said they could remain in place until May next year.

Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen had previously said that Denmark has no plans to follow suit and institute its own border controls, arguing that a decision to do so would likely result in more asylum seekers. Endit