Drop in number of asylum seekers - new estimate for this year
The number of asylum seekers coming to Finland has dropped in the past few days. Because of a dramatic downward trend in the numbers, the Ministry of the Interior has updated its estimate for 2015. The new estimate is 30,000–35,000 asylum seekers by the end of this year, whereas the previous estimate was 50,000. However, the figures may still change as a result of the situation in other European countries receiving asylum seekers.
Finland's determined action to manage migration has proved successful. During the past week, we received 1,636 asylum seekers compared to around 3,000 a week in September.
- All those entering Finland at Tornio are now registered at the registration centre within twenty-four hours. Asylum seekers are probably well aware today that they must be registered in Tornio. In the past few days, the police have also conducted asylum interviews at the registration centre, which speeds up the processing of applications. Representatives of the EU Borders Agency, Frontex, will visit the Tornio registration centre on Thursday to see if our model could be used in Greece, for example, says Minister of the Interior Petteri Orpo.
The Finnish Immigration Service will soon release its new assessment of the security situation in Iraq and Somalia. The processing of asylum applications from Iraqi and Somali nationals has been suspended until the assessment has been updated. Finland is currently negotiating with Iraq on a readmission agreement. On the basis of the agreement, Iraqi asylum seekers whose application has been refused could be returned to their home country.
The decrease in the number of asylum seekers is also likely to result from effective immigration monitoring in Sweden; more and more people apply for asylum in Sweden and never travel to Finland.
Inquiries:
Jaana Vuorio, Director General, Finnish Immigration Service, tel. +358 295 419 420
Päivi Nerg, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Interior, tel. +358 50 456 1012
This is an English translation of a press release originally issued in Finnish on Oct 14, 2015.