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Tue, 23 Jun, 2015 12:08:10 AM FM terms proposed share of asylum seekers’ burden inappropriate FTimes – STT Report, June 23  Man working at refugees shelter centre. File Photo Lehtikuva. Finland is planning to reduce the annual refugee quota, reported the national broadcaster Yle on Monday.
According to Yle sources, Finland plans to take the annual refugee quota back to 750 people.
The country took over a thousand quota refugee this year with the same number stipulated for this year.
The EU is currently preparing to relocate refugees to member countries.
According to the Yle, the government also plans to allocate the same amount of money it currently directs to quota refugees for both quota refugees as well as for transfers of asylum seekers.
The decision on the reduction of quota refugees is expected in September.
Immigration authority is found to interview an asylum seeker in Helsinki. File Photo – Lehtikuva . The EU has appealed to members to show solidarity to migrants fleeing to the EU and asylum seekers suffering at the coastal states following the Mediterranean migration crisis.
It is ascribed in the government programme that the number of quota refugees will remain at least at the last year’s level.
Foreign Minister Timo Soini said the proposed sharing of asylum seekers’ burden by the EU is not appropriate.
“The government programme is absolutely clear that it should be carried out on a voluntarily basis,” Soini told news agency STT.
According to Soini, temporary arrangements based on emergency situations should still be influenced, since they tend to become permanent.
Soini said the issue of transfer of asylum seekers empowers the EU Commission in a new way which Soini believes has no justification.
Foreign Minister Timo Soini. File Photo Lehtikuva. Finland’s position on this matter will be resolved during a meeting of the EU Committee of Ministers on Wednesday.
Finland will also have to adopt the decision in case the EU Commission’s proposal is realised and the majority of EU countries are in favour of sharing the burden of asylum seekers between the member states as a first-aid solution to the crisis.
“If a majority decision is realised, then it is a separate issue. Now we need to influence the decision so that it does pass,” Soini said.
Soini strongly supports the continuation of the so-called Dublin procedure in which the principle outlines that the first country which the asylum seekers arrives in handles the matter until the end.
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Finland Times
| Friday, 19 April, 2024 |
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