Dual citizenship approved by Danish parliament

Broad majority of parliament backs law change, which looks set to come into effect in the summer of 2015

A broad majority of parliament today approved dual citizenship in Denmark.

The new law will permit foreigners to become Danish citizens without having to give up the citizenship of their own country, and it will also allow Danes who have given up their citizenship for another to be able to reclaim it.

"Many people today choose to settle in foreign countries, but still retain a strong attachment to their country of origin,” said the justice minister, Karen Hækkerup, in a statement.

“We should not force people to choose.”

All thanks to report
The government’s decision to allow dual citizenship is based on a report by a panel that it established in late 2012 to look into the issue.

The panel initially looked into the possibility of limiting dual citizenship to other EU nations or countries in NATO, but found that such a law would risk not living up to European human rights conventions concerning discrimination.

The panel's findings also pointed to the dual citizenship ramifications in other countries, including Sweden, which has allowed dual citizenship since 2001.

“I applaud the thorough report because it provides a solid foundation for discussing the question of dual citizenship,” Hækkerup said back in March.

“We won’t change a comma regarding what it takes to become a Danish citizen,” she added.

The law change is expected to come into force in the summer of 2015.

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