Finland and Afghanistan negotiate return of asylum seekers
The ministerial working group on migration discussed today on 22 April the return of asylum seekers to Afghanistan. It also gave instructions to the Finnish officials who will negotiate the conclusion of a readmission protocol with Afghanistan in May.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministy of the Interior, Päivi Nerg, will travel to Afghanistan in May to discuss the protocol with the competent local authorities. A draft protocol was submitted to the Afghan authorities early this year. The protocol concerns both the volutary return of Afghan asylum seekers and the return of those whose asylum application has been refused.
In 2015, Afghans lodged the second highest number of asylum applications in Finland (5,214) after Iraqis. This year, they have been the largest nationality (522 applications by 19 April).
Inquiries
Katarine Lindstedt, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 488 258, [email protected]