Minister Mykkänen joins mission to select quota refugees in Turkey

Minister of the Interior Kai Mykkänen will travel to Ankara in Turkey to participate in selecting quota refugees. He will observe the refugee selection process, in which the Finnish authorities will work together with the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR.

While in Turkey, Minister Mykkänen will also meet Turkish Minister of the Interior, Süleyman Soylu, and non-governmental organisations operating on the Syrian border. He will also visit a refugee camp. Minister Mykkänen will be accompanied by Permanent Secretary Ilkka Salmi.

The reception, or resettlement, of quota refugees is the most effective way of helping people in severe distress. Persons proposed by the UNHCR or other foreigners in need of international protection, whose need for protection has been investigated before their arrival, are selected for admission to Finland as quota refugees. Finland has been admitting quota refugees since the 1970s.

The majority of the quota refugees to be admitted to Finland are Syrians. This year, Finland will receive 530 Syrians from Turkey. The UNHCR’s resettlement operation in Turkey has been the largest of its kind globally since 2014.

Finland and the European Union would like more countries to take action in this respect and establish their own refugee resettlement programmes.

"Expanding the resettlement of quota refugees to an increasing number of Member States plays a key role in reforming the entire EU asylum system. Instead of dealing with asylum seekers coming across the borders, the emphasis must be shifted towards accepting quota refugees. This will allow us to offer lawful ways of entering Europe and protection to those who need it the most", notes Minister Mykkänen.

The particular emphasis in Finland's quota policy is on resettling members of the most vulnerable groups, including families with young children and women in a difficult position.

Read more about the resettlement of quota refugees

Inquiries:

Director General Laura Yli-Vakkuri, tel. +358 40 720 2216, [email protected]
Titta Andersson-Bohren, Special Adviser to the Minister of the Interior, tel. +358 50 5131 539, [email protected] (Minister Mykkänen's interview requests)