Finland's Interior Ministry has sent for comments a draft of the government's plans to streamline the country's asylum laws.
If enacted, the reform would see unfounded applications quickly processed and rejected, and could also mean a crackdown on repeated asylum applications by the same individuals.
The changes are particularly aimed at applicants who are likely to receive a negative decision as well as those who may be considered a threat to Finland's national security.
When the law changes were initially announced earlier this year, Interior Minister Mari Rantanen (Finns) said that the government wants to tackle the issue of repeat applications.
"We need a change in thinking if a person has not been found to have grounds for international protection and the matter has been confirmed in court, then the presumption must be that the person leaves the country or is removed from the country," Rantanen said.
In addition, if the bill is passed, applicants for asylum could face restrictions on their freedom of movement while their applications are being processed.
"The enforcement of decisions on deportation would be streamlined and restrictions would be placed on the ability of beneficiaries of international protection to visit the countries from which they have fled," the ministry's statement said.
The deadline for submitting comments on the government's proposal is 7 January 2025, as the bill is set to be put before Parliament during the 2025 spring session.
