First 50 asylum seekers are relocated to Finland on Wednesday

The intra-EU relocation of asylum seekers to Finland begins on Wednesday when 50 asylum seekers arrive in Finland from Italy. All of them come from Eritrea.

Finland has committed to admitting approximately 3,200 asylum seekers under the intra-EU relocation scheme over the next two years. It has already been decided that 2,078 persons will be relocated from Italy and Greece, and decisions on the allocation of the remaining 1,150 asylum seekers will be made later.

The asylum seekers who are relocated to Finland are not automatically granted asylum or residence permit in Finland. Their applications are examined like all the other asylum applications that are processed in Finland.

Finland has appointed a roving contact person from the Finnish Immigration Service and established a national contact point at the Finnish Immigration Service. They are both responsible for the administrative cooperation required by the relocation scheme.

Finland supports other EU countries through EASO

Finland supports countries in southern Europe during the difficult asylum-seeker situation also through the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). The Finnish Immigration Service, for example, gives Italian and Bulgarian authorities training in country of origin information. Finland has also provided expert support concerning EU funds. In previous years, Finland has taken part in the development of the reception system in Greece.

Finland takes also active part in creating the ‘Hotspot’ approach. The centres that are being set up in Italy and Greece by the EU for processing arrivals are called hotspots. Relocation transfers are also carried out from hotspots. Finland has informed EASO of its readiness to send an expert to Italy as part of the EASO hotspot support teams in November–December.

The Finnish Immigration Service considers case by case whether it participates in the expert support coordinated by EASO. Special attention is paid to the ability of the small agency to share its resources without compromising the performance of its national duties. Considering its resources, Finland has, however, taken very active part in the operational support provided by EASO.

Further information for the media

relocation of asylum seekers:
Project Manager Kaj Swanljung
Dublin Section, Asylum Unit, Finnish Immigration Service
tel. 0295 430 431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi

participation in the EASO support activities:
Senior Adviser Tuomas Koljonen
Legal Service and Country Information Unit, Finnish Immigration Service
tel. 0295 430 431, e-mail: firstname.lastname@migri.fi