Ministerial conference in Vilnius to discuss challenges in EU’s external border control
Representatives of the EU Member States, the European Commission and EU agencies will meet in Vilnius, Lithuania on 20–21 January for a conference on external border control organised by Austria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland. State Secretary Akseli Koskela will represent Finland at the meeting.
More detailed information will be used in the future to develop the Finnish Immigration Service
The Ministry of the Interior’s project examined ways to clarify the picture of migration to Finland in the next few years and its impacts on the Finnish migration administration, especially the Finnish Immigration Service. The aim is to ensure that the migration administration meets the needs of society by means of smooth services.
Additional legislative amendments concerning preparedness for mass influx of migrants circulated for comments
On 19 January, the Ministry of the Interior sent out for comments draft legislative amendments that would support preparedness for a possible mass influx of migrants. This is a follow-up to the government proposal for amending the reception act last year. The need for change has been identified in the development work that the authorities have been carrying out since 2015.
Legislative project launched to bring police cooperation agreement between Finland and Sweden into force
The Ministry of the Interior has today set up a legislative project to prepare a government proposal for adopting and bringing into force the agreement on police cooperation in the border area between Finland and Sweden.
Amendment to the reception act clarifies responsibilities for preparing for mass influx of migrants
The reception act will be amended so that the Finnish Immigration Service will have central responsibility for preparedness planning concerning the organisation of reception services in the event of a mass influx of migrants. The President of the Republic approved the bill for the act on Thursday 16 December. The act will enter into force on 1 January 2022.
Changes in police service fees: passport price falls, prices of other licences and permits remain the same or rise
Police licence and permit fees are due to change in 2022. The price of a passport will fall, while most prices of other licences and permits will rise. The prices of identity cards will remain unchanged. The changes reflect the cost-correlation of licences and permits. The fees charged for licences and permits must correspond by law to the costs incurred in issuing these documents.
-
Voluntary and forced return »
Under certain conditions, Finland may assist voluntary return to the home country.
-
Violent radicalisation »
Violent radicalisation refers to justifying violence based on one's own view of the world, or on ideological grounds.
-
Finnish flag days »
Finland has official flag days and national flag days designated in the calendar. The flag may be flown on other days as well.