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Finland plans to fast-track unfounded asylum applications

The proposed reforms could see some migrants facing significant restrictions on their freedom of movement while their applications are being processed.

Photo shows a migrant and a border guard at the Vartius checkpoint.
More than 1,300 people applied for asylum at an eastern border checkpoint since August last year. File photo from the Vartius crossing point. Image: Juha Kemppainen / Yle
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Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's (NCP) government is drafting changes to Finland's asylum legislation which could see unfounded applications quickly processed and rejected.

The reform would also lead to some migrants facing significant restrictions on their freedom of movement while their applications are being processed.

"There would be no right to move within Finland or from here to the rest of Europe," Sanna Montin of the Interior Ministry's Immigration Department explained.

The so-called Border Procedures Act would allow Finnish authorities to quickly deport people from the country if they are found to have no grounds for seeking asylum.

"The aim is to ensure that unfounded applications are processed quickly and that removal is completed as quickly as possible," Montin said, adding that this expedited process would mean that applications could be processed within four weeks.

Photo shows Joutseno Reception Centre.
Asylum seekers would be housed in reception centres, such as this one in Joutseno, while their applications are processed. Under the proposed law change, they would not be allowed to leave the facility until that process is completed. Image: Linda Söderlund / Yle

The asylum law change is particularly aimed at applicants who are likely to receive a negative decision and who may be considered a threat to Finland's national security.

Eeva-Maija Leivo, an immigration specialist at the Interior Ministry, told Yle that authorities will first assess whether the reasons given for seeking asylum are credible. If not, the application will be fast-tracked and the threat of the applicant will be assessed based on information from the Finnish Border Guard.

New law would not ease current backlog

More than 1,300 asylum seekers crossed the Russian border into Finland since the beginning of last August.

The Finnish government recently extended the closure of the eastern border until 14 April, amid suspicions that Russia is orchestrating the movement of migrants towards Finnish border checkpoints as part of a so-called hybrid operation.

The law change currently being drafted by the government would not however ease the current backlog of asylum applications, as the legislation would only apply to migrants applying for asylum once the law goes into effect.

The bill is expected to be brought before parliament by April, according to the ministry.

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