Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (council) emphasizes that an EU law is needed to regulate instrumentalized immigration. Finland’s own law is not enough.
14:17•Updated 14:19
Prime minister Petteri Orpo (collective) emphasizes that EU-level legislation is needed for instrumented immigration.
Based on the conversion law passed by Finland in July, Finland could convert migrants coming across the Russian border without them being able to apply for asylum. Broader shoulders are needed anyway:
– It is not good that each country has to make such legislation separately, which has tensions with EU legislation.
Orpo commented on the matter when he arrived at the EU summit, where one of the main topics is immigration.
Poland is now following the example of Finland and wants to temporarily stop processing asylum applications at the border with Belarus.
– I support and understand Poland and Donald Hardly presentation that EU-level legislation is needed to tackle this instrumentalized immigration.
Orpo says that he has spoken to the chairman of the commission about the matter Ursula von der Leyen with. According to him, many EU leaders understand the matter.
According to Orpo, this is not a normal asylum application.
– Russia, together with Belarus, directs migrants without proper documents to our borders. It is a direct attack on the EU and a hybrid operation.
The Commission is currently investigating the acceptability of the Finnish Conversion Act. Human rights organizations and many experts have criticized the law, among other things, because applying for asylum is a fundamental right according to UN and EU international agreements.
The meeting also talks about transferring asylum applications to countries outside the EU. Based on the recording of the government program, Finland wants to promote the issue.
According to Von der Leyen, the Commission is investigating the possibilities of transferring those who have received a negative asylum decision to centers outside the EU to await return.
According to Orpo, cooperation with third countries is essential in order to manage immigration.
Hungary stuck yet another aid package
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi visits the summit. He presents the peace plan, which he calls the winning plan, to the EU leaders.
There is a crack in the EU’s line of support for Ukraine: Hungary has blocked yet another aid package aimed at Ukraine.
The EU, the United States and the G7 countries have agreed on 45 billion euros in support for Ukraine. The proceeds of the funds frozen from Russia are the collateral for the loan to be supported.
The sanctions imposed on Russia behind the freezing of funds are connected to the matter. The United States wants to reduce the risks so that the sanctions are valid for three years before the need for renewal. It has been half a year in the EU.
With the exception of Hungary, the other EU countries are ready for change. Hungary does not want to concede before the US presidential election.
– We cannot let one man, one country block it. Solutions must be found, Orpo said.
According to Orpo, the summit must send a clear message that the EU will continue to support Ukraine as much and as long as necessary.
– We need this message from here now, we must not forget Ukraine.
On Saturday, Finland will host a conference in which the political leadership of Ukraine will participate. The meeting focuses on environmental issues. According to Orpo, the meeting is a hybrid, which suggests that some participate remotely.