The Finnish Immigration Service is preparing a new operating model in which municipalities would be given the right to provide state-funded reception services in their municipality without a reception center.
“Are I am really disappointed with the way the whole process has been handled from the beginning, ”Joroinen Mayor Jaakko Kuronen start.
Kuronen’s criticism concerns the activities of the Ministry of the Interior and the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) with regard to Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in Finland.
According to an estimate by the Ministry of the Interior on Wednesday, at least 40,000–80,000 refugees may arrive in Finland from Ukraine this year.
Since the Russian invasion, more than 12,000 Ukrainian citizens have applied for international protection from Finland. The number is probably higher than this, as not everyone has registered their stay.
Kurosen according to the Ministry, and the activities of the Migris have been “poorly coordinated” and the joint guidelines issued to the municipalities have excelled in their absence. According to him, at worst, this has even led to the inability to help Ukrainian refugees due to cumbersome arrangements.
“At a meeting, an official from Eastern Finland appealed that it should now be stated publicly that it is no longer possible to accept Ukrainians,” says Kuronen.
“I was ashamed to be a Finnish official.”
Read more: Up to 80,000 refugees arrive in Finland from Ukraine, but “the situation is completely different than in 2015”
Kurosen According to him, the main problems are related to the currently poorly managed logistics in applying for temporary protection.
“A refugee arriving in Joroinen must first visit the Mikkeli, Kuopio or Joensuu police station to apply for temporary protection, after which he or she can only apply to the reception center.”
“It is completely incomprehensible that people without cars and without language skills are being bounced all over Eastern Finland.”
Also the mayor of Pello Eero Yilitalo says he recognizes the problem posed by Kuronen. One hundred kilometers must be driven from the field to Rovaniemi, which is the nearest place where Ukrainian refugees can apply for temporary protection, Ylitalo says.
HS also reached out to the mayors of two other municipalities. However, they did not report a similar problem in the area of their own municipality.
A service point has been opened in the West Harbor for people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Read more: “Hello I am Veronika” – A nine-year-old Ukrainian girl escaped destruction for more than 2,000 kilometers and is now learning the basics of the Finnish language in Joroinen
Migrin deputy manager Elina Immonen recognizes the criticism but does not fully sign it.
“This is a new situation, and nothing in itself has gone wrong, but we have had to find solutions as if on a flight.”
However, Immonen admits that municipal co-operation is an area that has been developed recently.
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“We cannot force people to register at the border at all, because they have the right to enter Finland.”
Kurosen In order to partially prevent the “bouncing” mentioned, Migri is currently preparing a new operating model in cooperation with the Association of Finnish Municipalities, which would give municipalities the right to provide state-funded reception services in their municipality without a reception center.
Immonen believes that the new model would solve at least some of the problems posed by Kuronen.
“Preparations for the operating model have begun this week. It is due to be completed in April. ”
However, the model presented by Migr would not eliminate the problem raised by Kuronen, where an applicant for a temporary residence permit must first submit an application to the police station before he or she can access reception services.
“This would require a change in the law. Of course, the centralized model also has its advantages. ”
Ylitalo receives Migr with satisfaction with the planned model.
“Yes, it sounds good that refugee services could also be provided in small municipalities.”
Also Specialist of the Ministry of the Interior Mari Helenius recognizes the criticisms leveled at Kuronen and Ylitalo, but emphasizes that the current situation is new and exceptional.
“The war in Ukraine and its scale surprised us all, and surely many left Ukraine with the idea that they were only temporarily fleeing.”
According to Helenius, the unclear situation for Ukrainian refugees is largely due to the already extensive contacts of refugees with Finland and their permission to stay in the Schengen area for 90 days without a visa.
“We cannot force people to register at the border at all, because they have the right to enter Finland.”
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