Summary:

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini is hopeful that repatriation of rejected asylum seekers to Afghanistan will happen more smoothly in the future. Finland and Afghanistan signed an agreement at the beginning of October that should make also forcible repatriation easier, but Mr Soini hopes that the majority of repatriations will be voluntary also in the future. The Finnish Immigration Service outlined earlier this year that the security situation in Afghanistan had improved. Mr Soini, who visited the country this week, says that Finland’s estimation is accurate but points out that the situation is monitored and the estimation can be updated if necessary. Finland supports the idea that the EU should sign an agreement with Afghanistan that tackles the root causes of migration, like the agreements signed with African nations.

Media:  Helsingin Sanomat (E-edition) 

Date: 27.10.2016

Journalist: Virve Kähkönen

Main source: Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini