North Zealand mayors propose converting Sjælsmark center into military barracks

Mayors from nine municipalities in North Zealand have issued an open letter to the Minister of Defense requesting that the Sjælsmark departure center be converted into a military barracks. Morten Slotved, the Mayor of Hørsholm, stated that the proposal aims to expand military capacity in the Capital Region while simultaneously removing the departure center from the local area.

Currently, the Sjælsmark center houses a small number of rejected asylum seekers, with three-quarters of the residents being displaced Ukrainians.

In a related development regarding refugee distribution, the City of Copenhagen has expressed readiness to relocate displaced Ukrainians to Jutland. This follows opposition from five Jutland mayors regarding a government bill intended to halt immigration from 14 specific Ukrainian regions. Andreas Keil, the Social Democratic Mayor of Employment, Integration, and Business in Copenhagen, addressed the mayors in a letter regarding the capacity to receive refugees.