Nordic Ministerial Meeting on Immigration in Rosendal

Among the topics discussed, was how to use visa policy tools as both positive and negative leverages in areas such as return and readmission as well as how to prevent abuse of our common visa system to safeguard our external borders and the integrity of the asylum system. Preventing unfounded asylum claims by persons from visa exempt countries or by persons with a Schengen visa is a priority.

The ministers also addressed concerns following the recent news regarding the decision of Hungary to extend its system of national cards for guest workers to include citizens of Russia and Belarus. The Nordic ministers, together with the respective foreign ministers, as well as their Baltic colleagues, therefore sent a joint letter to EU Commissioner Johansson expressing their worry that the decision may constitute a serious security risk to all Members States.

The Ministers also discussed how the Nordic countries can cooperate in promoting reintegration and returns, how to jointly deal with displaced people from Ukraine, as well as the pressure on our common external borders especially through instrumentalised migration.  

– Many asylum applications are submitted by people with a Schengen visa or made by persons from visa-exempt countries. A joint effort is imperative in order to prevent this in the future. It is in our common interest to prevent any abuse of the visa institute, said the Nordic Ministers.

The dialogue between the ministers also touched upon the implementation of the Migration and Asylum Pact and innovative solutions for asylum processing and cooperation with third countries.  

Mehl hosted this year's ministerial meeting in the High-level Nordic Cooperation on Refugee Issues (NSHF). The meetings are held every year and are organized by the Nordic country holding the chairmanship of the NSHF. The Ministers agree to the importance of continuing close cooperation and dialogue on these matters. 

 

Ms. Emilie Enger Mehl – Norwegian Minister of Justice and Public Security

Mr. Kaare Dybvad Bek – Danish Minister of Immigration and Integration

Ms. Guðrún Hafsteinsdóttir – Icelandic Minister of Justice

Ms. Maria Malmer Stenergard – Swedish Minister of Migration

Mr. Antti Salminen – Finnish State Secretary for the Minister of Interior of Finland