Over 100 million people are now displaced in the world. Most of them are in Africa, aiming to reach Europe. Many risk their lives in perilous boat journeys across the Mediterranean. Høyre wants to put an end to this. Here we see refugees arriving on Lesbos in Greece. Photo: Jan Tomas Espedal
Almost 1 million people applied for asylum in the EU, Norway, and Switzerland in 2022. This was a 50% increase from the previous year. According to the EU Asylum Agency, the numbers continue to rise.
– We must learn from previous crises and create a broad consensus before the next refugee crisis. It’s about being prepared before the crisis occurs, says Mari Holm Lønseth, immigration policy spokesperson for Høyre.
Lønseth refers to the refugee crisis in 2015 and the influx of refugees over Storskog in Finnmark.
– The asylum agreement from 2015 was made without a regular investigative process. Now we can create new long-lasting solutions at our own pace, says Lønseth.
Now, Høyre’s invitation to a consensus comes in the form of a Document 8 proposal from Lønseth, Erna Solberg, and five other Høyre representatives.
Here are some of the points that Høyre is putting forward:
Here are all of Høyre’s measures
Mari Holm Lønseth
Immigration policy spokesperson for Høyre
On Thursday, Aftenposten could present the government’s restrictions for Ukrainian refugees to reduce the number of arrivals.
Høyre is likely to support the proposals and, therefore, alongside Frp, secure a majority for the restrictions.
– Høyre’s input on an asylum consensus will further contribute to Norway not being a preferred country for seeking protection.
Lønseth points out that Finland and Poland have recently experienced large influxes of asylum seekers coming over the Russian border.
– This is reminiscent of Storskog. We may face such situations again. Russia has shown that they are willing to use migrants to destabilize as part of hybrid warfare.
Frp first
It is in Africa that migration is increasing sharply. In the Sahel region, Congo, Ethiopia, and Sudan. It is in the neighboring areas of these countries that Høyre believes reception centers should be considered.
Many years ago, Frp advocated for such a solution. Current Parliament President Masud Gharahkhani proposed the same in 2021 as the Aps immigration policy spokesperson. But it has not yet become the policy of the Støre government.
In Europe, the UK and Denmark have advocated for such “outsourcing” of asylum centers.
The British government wants to send asylum seekers to Rwanda to deter migrants from setting out in small boats from France across the English Channel. Recently, the British Supreme Court ruled that Rwanda cannot be considered a safe country to return refugees to.
The Brits are now working on new legislation and a new treaty with Rwanda.
This is work that is being followed with interest in the EU and in Norway.
Boat refugees arrive in Lesbos, Greece in 2020, Photo: Jan Tomas Espedal
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Active EU cooperation
Lønseth says a system of reception centers in neighboring areas, such as in Africa, must be thoroughly explored. It is crucial for Høyre that such reception centers are established well within the framework of human rights.
– But over 100 million people are displaced. Many die along the way in a system where many pay exorbitant fees to human traffickers. Taking in a few thousand more refugees to Norway does not solve the world’s migration problems. We must find better ways to help.
She believes that Norway should engage in active dialogue with EU countries such as Denmark and Germany, as well as the UK, to find “solutions in third countries.”
Only fetch children
Høyre wants to tighten the requirements for family reunification. Today, it is possible to fetch close family members, including parents over 60 who do not have other caregivers.
– How easy it is to achieve family reunification matters for how attractive Norway is. Therefore, various restrictions that can be introduced as needed must be explored and planned for. This could, for example, include setting higher age limits and reconsidering the possibility of bringing parents to Norway at all.
– Is it possible to limit access to family reunification to only include one’s own children?
– Yes, such restrictions should be fully researched and, if necessary, implemented if a crisis situation warrants it.
Høyre specifically asks the government to come to the Parliament with an analysis of the risk of a new refugee crisis and an analysis of the scope for action.
– For Høyre, it’s not necessarily a goal to use crisis mechanisms but to have sufficient tools to handle a situation that arises, says Lønseth.