Finland calls for determined action by the EU to manage migration flows
Finnish Minister of the Interior Petteri Orpo will participate in the extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council of 14 September in Brussels. The aim of the Council is to agree on EU measures and a further course of action to better manage migration flows. Finland calls for determined and effective action in all policy sectors to control migration within the EU.
On 9 September 2015, the European Commission put forward its package of proposals for a better management of migration flows while promoting solidarity and burden sharing within the Union.
Finland to participate in burden sharing on a voluntary basis
The Commission proposes that a temporary emergency response mechanism be used to assist Italy, Greece and Hungary. This means that those who have applied for asylum would be relocated from these countries to other EU Member States. The relocation would apply to a total of 120,000 people (15,600 from Italy, 50,400 from Greece and 54,000 from Hungary). Finland will take part in burden sharing on a voluntary basis, and will receive about 2,400 asylum seekers from Italy, Greece and Hungary over the next two years.
These are new measures to be taken under an emergency response mechanism similar to that agreed on earlier this year to assist Italy and Greece. The reason behind the new measures is the sharp increase in the numbers of asylum seekers coming to Hungary on the Western Balkans route, and it is now more likely that these people are in need of international protection. The introduction of these further measures to assist Italy, Greece and Hungary is justified because of the constant pressure faced by these countries.
Return policy to be smooth and effective
Finland is in favour of a smooth and effective return policy. All those entering the EU should be registered, and those in need of international protection and those trying to enter the EU illegally should be clearly identified. Other candidates should be returned to their countries of origin or transit without delay. The role of the EU Borders Agency (Frontex) in the return process should be reinforced. Finland also supports the setting up of joint ‘processing centres’ in Greece and Italy to speed up the identification and registration of asylum seekers.
Finland welcomes the proposal to establish within the EU a common list of safe countries of origin. According to the proposal, the Balkan countries and Turkey would be considered safe countries of origin, which would allow swifter processing of asylum applications from candidates originating from these countries.
Inquiries:
Laura Yli-Vakkuri, Director General, tel. +358 40 720 22 16