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Ministerial working group on migration agree on an action plan to prevent illegal stay in the country

Government Communications Department
Publication date 28.9.2016 14.05
Press release 404/2016

On Wednesday 28 September, the ministerial working group on migration discussed the prevention of illegal stay in the country and agreed on the preparation of a cross-sectoral action plan. The ministerial working group also adopted an action plan to tackle security threats at reception centres.

It is important that the authorities are prepared for a potential increase in illegal stay in accordance with the policy outlines of the ministerial working group. The joint action plan of the ministries will be completed in November. Measures must be brought into force as of the beginning of 2017, says Minister of the Interior Paula Risikko.

The action plan will focus on measures that ensure the effectiveness of voluntary return. In addition, the authorities will prepare for a potential increase in illegal stay in the country.

In the preparation of the action plan, account has also been taken of the similar action programme recently drawn up in Sweden. Most measures now proposed in Sweden are already being implemented in Finland. For example, the Police and the Border Guard have the right under the law to carry out checks at workplaces and ensure that the employees have work and residence permits.

Focus on an effective asylum procedure

Another tool to prevent illegal stay in the country is an effective asylum procedure. Since this spring, a cross-sectoral expert group has examined how to improve the effectiveness of the asylum procedure. The ministers discussed at their meeting the working group's final report which has examined the asylum procedure as a whole, from filing asylum applications to applicants leaving the country or placing them in a municipality.

The greatest challenge in the asylum procedure is the very large number of clients. A wide range of measures and legislative amendments have already been introduced and resources allocated to improve the effectiveness of the asylum procedure and further develop the activities.

Smooth removal from the country plays a significant role in preventing illegal stay in the country. By European standards, the Finnish Police carry out the returns of those whose application for asylum has been refused very effectively. In the future too, attention will be given to returns, and supporting voluntary return in particular.

Action plan to tackle security threats at reception centres

The ministerial working group also discussed topical issues related to the safety and security of reception centres and adopted an action plan to tackle the security threats at reception centres.

Key recommendations set out in the action plan include to enhance situation monitoring and information exchange; to promote risk analysis and risk profiling and to take action they require; to prepare for exceptional situations; and to further develop employment and educational activities.

The action plan also specifies that the requirements for functionality, economic efficiency and safety and security are taken into consideration at reception centres. Safety and security requirements will be met through proactive response as planned, and serious incidents will be proactively prevented or rapidly and effectively tackled.

In the future, any person that may disturb public order and security will be placed in a couple of designated reception centres. In addition, a sufficient number of security stewards and healthcare and social welfare professionals will be appointed at these centres to support the activities of the police and reception centre personnel. The related legislative amendment concerning security stewards will come into force in early 2017. Next year, it will also be possible to impose an obligation to stay at and report to these reception centres. There is only a small number of people causing disturbance, but to ensure safety and security, special attention will be paid to this group of people.

Ensuring mental health services

In addition, attention will be given to ensuring that there are enough healthcare and social welfare professionals and mental health work expertise at reception centres.

The Finnish Immigration Service established an expert group early this spring to further develop mental health work at reception centres. Instructions have been given for mental health work and personnel has been trained.

Inquiries: Juuso Rönnholm, Special Adviser to the Minister of the Interior, tel. +358 50 574 1504, and Erkki Matilainen, General Secretary for the ministerial working group on migration, tel. +358 50 456 1805

English translation of the press release published on 29 September 2016.