FINLAND: Immigration Creates Future Integration

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HELSINKI 000293 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINR ECON ELAB SMIG PREL PGOV FI SUBJECT: FINLAND: Immigration Creates Future Integration Concerns REF: A)08 STATE 128186 B)HELSINKI 00239 C)HELSINKI 00289 (D)08 HELSINKI 574 ¶1. (U) Summary: After a slight lull in 2006 and 2007, Finland is experiencing a boom in asylum and refugee immigration. Finland's asylum policies are one of the most "accommodating" in the region - more so than neighboring Nordic countries. Yet even with Government of Finland (GoF) assistance, integration remains difficult. Asylum-immigrants are culturally different from Finns and usually lack the Finnish language skills necessary for employment. In order to address the integration issue, the GOF is taking steps to better assist intending immigrants. The GOF is also tightening its asylum policies. Despite these initial efforts, the Finnish public's attitudes towards immigration have hardened over the past two years. Two challenges facing Finland's immigration integration policies - 1) an increasingly diverse immigrant population and 2) budgetary concerns - could make it more difficult to fund and implement integration programs, leading to immigrant isolation, dissatisfaction, and similar integration problems seen in neighboring countries. End Summary. Asylum Cases by the Numbers: A Boomlet -------------- ¶2. (U) After a slight lull in 2006 and 2007, Finland is experiencing a boom in asylum and refugee immigration. Asylum applications have increased by nearly one-third. In 2008, the GoF received over 4,000 cases with over 6,000 cases expected in 2009. Main refugee source countries are Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan. Intending asylum seekers often hear about Finland from friends and family already in Finland, and it has become common for asylum-seekers to target Finland as a final destination. ¶3. (U) Finland's asylum policies are one of the most "accommodating" in the region - more so than neighboring Nordic countries. Ministry of Interior (MOI) officials have noted an increased number of Iraqi asylum applications since Sweden recently tightened its asylum and immigration policies. In Finland, asylum-seekers are quickly processed at a reception centers where they receive financial support and are well-cared for until their case is decided. Integrating into Finland: Harder? -------------- ¶4. (U) Even with GOF assistance, integration remains difficult. Asylum-immigrants are culturally different from Finns and usually lack the Finnish language skills necessary for employment. Authorities worry that immigrants unable to learn Finnish and without meaningful employment could be marginalized, and turn to criminal or anti-social activities (reftel D). While quota refugees arriving in Finland have been better educated than ever before, reports indicate that highly trained immigrants do not settle into work life better than those with a basic education and may in fact become bitter and de-motivated if the jobs available to them do not meet their expectations. Finnish Government Action -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In order to address the integration issue, the GOF is taking steps to better assist intending immigrants. For example, in early 2009, the Finnish Parliament changed the Aliens Act (Finnish immigration law) to offer asylum seekers housed in reception facilities a new visa type which allows them to look for work rather than remain on social services while their cases are under consideration. In addition, the City of Helsinki offers immigrants language and skills training through two centers, and limited language courses are offered in areas outside Helsinki. ¶6. (U) The GOF is also tightening its asylum policies. In May 2009, the GOF harmonized their Iraqi immigration policy with UNHCR standards, identifying safe areas in Iraq that would not qualify an immigrant for asylum. In its Fall 2009 session, Parliament will likely debate polices requiring accepted asylum-seekers to wait one year before requesting residency for family members. Additionally, family reunification would become dependent upon the asylum- immigrant's financial ability to support a family. At the local level, the City of Helsinki City works to spread subsidized municipal housing throughout the city to avoid large clusters of immigrants and thereby encourage more integration with local communities. Finns Remain Uneasy About Immigration -------------- ¶7. (U) Despite these initial efforts, the Finnish public's attitudes towards immigration have hardened over the past two years. In March 2009, only 45 percent of the public would HELSINKI 00000293 002 OF 002 welcome an increase in immigration, compared with 56 percent as polled in January 2007. About 44 percent of the respondents said they were against an increase in immigration, up from some 36 per cent two years ago. ¶8. (SBU) Comment: The total population in Finland is about 5.3 million. The number of immigrants, about 2.7 percent, is among the smallest in Europe. The immigration debate is due to reappear in parliamentary sessions in Fall (2009). Two challenges facing Finland's immigration integration policies are 1) an increasingly diverse immigrant population and 2) budgetary concerns. As immigrant numbers increase, they will have a greater role in determining services for their integration. Since such decisions are reached by consensus in Finland, the GOF must really manage perceptions on both sides - immigrant and native - to avoid deadlock. However, the current economic situation has pinched budgets making it harder to fund robust integration programs, which could lead to immigrant isolation, dissatisfaction and similar problems seen in neighboring countries. End comment. BUTLER