Parliament taking hard line on Roma asylum applications

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Parliament wants to change procedures for dealing with asylum seekers coming from other European Union countries whose applications have been denied. Under the proposed rules, the rejected applicants would not get income support in the form of money while they are awaiting repatriation at refugee reception centres.
      In the future, they would be given a roof over their heads at a reception centre, as well as food and personal hygiene supplies.
      New proposed legislation, which comes before Parliament on Tuesday, would also shorten the waiting time of EU citizens at reception centres.
     
At present, applicants whose applications have been refused have been entitled to reduced income supplements, and have been allowed to stay at reception centres for a month before the return home. In the future, the waiting time is to be no more than a week.
      MP Tapani Tölli (Centre), the chairman of the Parliament’s Administrative Committee, believes that the changes would reduce the number of unfounded asylum applications by citizens of European Union countries - primarily Roma from Bulgaria and Romania.
      Fears have been voiced in the Administrative Committee that rejected Roma asylum seekers would then seek monetary assistance from local authorities if the state aid is cut off.
     
Under the present interpretation of the Finnish constitution, all who are in an emergency situation are entitled to resort to fast-track income supplements if they are unable to get necessary means of living otherwise.
      “If it is granted too easily by the municipalities, the bad situation might easily get worse”, says MP Ben Zyskowicz (Nat. Coalition Party), who has been very active in advocating changes in aliens’ legislation.
      The Administrative Committee wants the state to reimburse municipalities for any costs that may ensue.
     
Last year 800 citizens of EU countries applied for asylum in Finland. Of these 739 were Bulgarians. Many applied more than once after first going back to their home countries.
      EU citizens routinely have their asylum applications rejected, and in many EU member states, citizens of other EU countries are not even accepted into the asylum process.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Romanian Ambassador to Finland: “Begging is not acceptable, but it is not a crime either” (3.6.2010)
  Vanhanen: Don´t give money to beggars (27.5.2010)
  Parliament wants report on benefits for immigrants and asylum seekers (14.5.2010)

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