NORWAY'S IMMIGRATION POLICY A HOT TOPIC IN PUBLIC

UNCLAS OSLO 000525 SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/NB E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SOCI PREF NO SUBJECT: NORWAY'S IMMIGRATION POLICY A HOT TOPIC IN PUBLIC DEBATE REF: OSLO 522 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. Due to a significant increase in the number of immigrants seeking asylum in Norway and news reports of generous welfare payments, the right of center "Progress Party" (FrP) has been largely successful in driving the public debate on Norway's integration and immigration policy. FrP's proposed radical solutions, such as sending asylum seekers to Africa as their applications are processed, have captured the public's attention and stimulated the debate. FrP's proposals have prompted other parties to stake out their own policies in advance of Norway's national parliamentary elections September 14. The Socialist Left Party (SV),for example, believes Norway's immigration policies are actually too constrictive and do not reflect this prosperous country's full capacity to provide refuge to those in need. This cable provides a snapshot of Norway's current integration and immigration debate and presents how the main political parties have staked out positions on these issues. END SUMMARY Significant Increase in Asylum Seekers and GON Response -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) In September 2008, the GON put forward a 13-point plan to halt the influx of asylum seekers, dispel the perception that Norway had the most lax entry policy, and prevent Norway from taking in a disproportionate number of such migrants. Subsequently, throughout 2008 and up to July 2009, most of these efforts were implemented. The efforts included fast-tracking applications, which usually leads to a rejection of the application. The result is that fewer applicants will now be able to obtain permits to remain in Norway on humanitarian grounds - a status short of asylum that comes with generous benefits and certain obligations. Separately, in May 2009, the GON finalized an MOU with Iraq on returning Iraqi asylum seekers, allowing final rejection of those applications. ¶3. (U) For the calendar year up until 31 July 2009, 9,825 people have so far sought asylum in Norway, a large increase over the same period in 2008, and 7,567 asylum cases have been processed. Of these, 1,100 were granted asylum; 1,754 were granted permits based on humanitarian grounds or "other protection" grounds such as the security situation; 2,980 were denied asylum; and 1,530 were categorized as Dublin II cases, and sent back to their original Dublin II Regulation Country of Entry. ¶4. (U) With the increased arrivals, Norway's current asylum centers are near full capacity. In June 2009, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) proposed to use boats, tent camps, and school residence halls to house the asylum seekers in order to handle the increase. UDI has asked municipalities to identify facilities to house new immigrants. A small number of communities have expressed opposition to UDI's request, claiming that the opening of an asylum center would compromise the quality of life and security for residents and give the municipalities a bad reputation. Right-of-center Progress Party Stirs Debate -------------- ¶5. (U) One of Norway's largest parties, FrP, is now the largest opposition party, polling at some 25-30 percent of the popular vote. The party has made increased integration of existing immigrants into Norway and reform of immigration policies a central component of its platform. A spokesman for FrP said July 11 that the GON should establish asylum seekers, processing centers in Uganda and Tanzania, with the rationale that Norway provides them direct aid and they are relatively stable countries. The spokesperson stated this would result in a drop in the number of people seeking asylum in Norway. The current "Red-Green" coalition of PM Stoltenberg strongly criticized FrP's proposal, saying that the GON cannot justify sending an asylum seeker to another country. The Deputy Minister of Welfare Policy Measures Laila Gustavsen (also of the Labor Party) calls FrP's proposal unrealistic and irresponsible, pointing out that it is not illegal to seek asylum. Nikolai Astrup of the moderate opposition Conservative Party (Hoyre) declared that the FrP proposal was immoral and does not address the issue at hand. Trine Skei Grande of the Liberal Party (Venstre) maintained that the proposal is foolish, completely impractical, and a clear violation of international laws and regulations. ¶6. (SBU) FrP's suggestion to send asylum seekers from any region to Africa while they await action on their applications is consistent with the party's general plan for handling immigration policy and responding to what they call the "Islamization of Norwegian society." According to media reporting, FrP would like to decrease federal funding to the Islamic Council of Norway, heighten control of mosques, ban serving halal food in prisons, adopt mandatory health checks for Muslim children in order to prevent female genital mutilation, establish a minimum age limit of 24 for arranged marriages, and require mandatory testing for refugees on Norwegian language and culture as a condition of their continued legal residence. Siv Jensen, party leader of FrP, declared that an FrP government would only admit 1,000 refugees a year. Mindset of the Red-Green Coalition -------------- ¶7. (SBU) As the largest party in the three-party coalition government, the Labor Party is being held largely responsible in the media for measures implemented so far to try to curb the steady stream of asylum applicants coming to Norway. The party has said that it is vital for the government to reduce the processing time of asylum applications and to improve the capacity of asylum centers across Norway. PM Jens Stoltenberg (Labor) stated he would like to grant asylum to those in need. He remarked that many asylum seekers are, however, not actually in need of protection and asserted that asylum seekers without a valid residence permit should be returned to their home countries. ¶8. (U) The overnment would also like to address the issue of integration of current immigrants into Norwegian society. For instance, Labor Party politician Hadia Tajik believes it is necessary to have a dialogue with mothers of immigrant backgrounds in order to combat the rash of forced marriages. The Center Party (Sp) supports measures that would provide women a better opportunity to learn the Norwegian language, values, and societal norms. The other government coalition partner SV asserts that the party will help women of minority backgrounds to become financially independent, to have full access to participate in social life, and to have complete control over their bodies and sexuality. SV and Sp are also in support of local integration, education, and recruitment programs that help youth and adults continue their education and find jobs. Party views on immigration policy -------------- ¶9. (U) SV would like to reverse legislation that tightened Norwegian asylum policy and for Norway to have a more humanitarian immigration policy. In their working program for the next Parliament period 2009 - 2013, SV states that as long as the security situation remains unstable in Afghanistan, Norway must not deport Afghan asylum seekers. SV also would like gender-based persecution in her home country to serve as a basis for a woman's right to be granted asylum, and advocates allowing dual citizenship, contrary to Norway's current policy. Hoyre prefers a tighter immigration policy that encourages skilled migrants, similar to the UK's shift in immigration policy. Party leader Erna Solberg would like the government to take a tougher approach on asylum seekers who arrive without identification papers and do away with laws such as the one that grants people asylum if their application processing time takes more than 15 months. Despite these differences, the parties are in agreement that refugees and asylum seekers should learn Norwegian while resident in asylum centers and that they should receive more incentives and assistance to find employment. Election Outcome Will Set Tone for Future Debate -------------- --- ¶10. (SBU) As reported in reftel, parliamentary elections are scheduled for September 14. The Red-Green Coalition of Ap, Sp, and SV hope to continue their governing coalition, and would likely make minor continued adjustments to existing immigration and integration policy. The FrP, as reported reftel, could potentially create a government with certain other parties in the opposition, including Hoyre. However, the relatively moderate Venstre and KrF have declared they will not work with a government that includes FrP, deeming the FrP's policies as too radical. Even if the center-right parties are able to come together with a common platform to form a government, it is unlikely that FrP's more radical immigration policy ideas would be implemented due to sharp opposition from other political parties in parliament and Norway's predominantly consensus-based political and legislative process. HEG