By Johannes BirkebaekCOPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Nordic governments intend to step up their cooperation to return immigrants without legal residence in the region to their countries of origin, ministers from the five countries said in a joint press conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday. However, the Danish model has become more popular as anti-immigration voices have gained traction across the Nordic region. The ministers of Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland have agreed to strengthen cooperation between diplomatic personnel in charge of returning migrants from the respective Nordic countries to their country of origin. The five countries also have agreed to arrange joint flights to take illegal residents to a third country through the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex. Lastly, the ministers agreed to "assist stranded irregular migrants in North Africa," who they say will be offered assisted voluntary return to their home countries and assistance in re-establishing themselves in the third country.

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Persons: Johannes Birkebaek COPENHAGEN, Ulf Kristersson, Maria Malmer Stenergard, Mari Rantanen, Johannes Birkebaek, Louise Rasmussen, David Gregorio Organizations: Nordic, United Nations, of, European Border, Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, Agency, International Organisation for Migration Locations: Copenhagen, Denmark, Danish, Nordic, Swedish, Finland, Finnish, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, North Africa, Europe, Africa