Elections for Members of European Parliament (MEPs) were held on May 23 through 26. The European Web Site on Integration is publishing a series on what national political parties have said in their campaigns about migrant and refugee integration in the EU.
In the next European Parliament, Finland will have thirteen MEPs, who will come from the National Coalition Party, Green League, Center Party, Finns Party, Social Democratic Party, Left Alliance, and Swedish People’s Party of Finland. Migration was a major topic on television and radio debates between the party candidates. However, the focus has not been on integration but rather on asylum seekers, refugees and national and EU-level policies to avoid repeating the refugee ‘crisis’ of 2015.
In their party programmes for the European Parliament elections, four parties mentioned the integration of migrants and/or refugees in some way. These parties were the Swedish People’s Party of Finland, Center Party, Left Alliance and Green League.
The parties most frequently mention topics relate to family reunification and residence permits, discrimination and racism, and the EU’s role in integration.
|
FAMILY REUNIFICATION, PERMITS & NATURALISATION |
|
|
Finns Party |
|
|
Original Text Maahanmuuttolainsäädännön suhteen Euroopalla ei ole muuta mahdollisuutta kuin soveltaa äärimmäisen tiukkoja säädöksiä. Lukuisat EU-maat ovat Suomesta poiketen jo tehokkailla kansallisilla toimenpiteillään laskeneet ulkomaalaisten oleskelulupia, perheenyhdistämisiä ja sosiaalietuuksia koskevat säädöksensä unionilainsäädännön ja kansainvälistä pakolaisuutta koskevien sopimusten minimirajalle. (p. 5) |
Unofficial Translation With regard to immigration law, Europe has no choice but to apply extremely stringent regulations. Unlike Finland, a number of EU countries have already, through effective national measures, lowered their legislation on aliens’ residence permits, family reunification and social benefits to the minimum level under EU law and international refugee agreements. (p. 5) |
|
Left Alliance |
|
|
Original Text Mahdollistetaan työn, opiskelun ja perhe-elämän perusteella tapahtuvaa maahanmuuttoa. (p. 12) |
Unofficial Translation We allow immigration based on work, study and family life. (p. 12) |
|
Swedish People’s Party of Finland |
|
|
Original Text Osallisuus ja mahdollisuudet perheiden yhdistämiseen ovat onnistuneen kotouttamisen perusedellytyksiä. (p. 10) Haluamme toimivaa perheenyhdistymisjärjestelmää kaikkialla EU-alueella. (p. 11) |
Unofficial Translation Participation and opportunities for family reunification are basic prerequisites for successful integration. (p. 10) We want a functioning family reunification system throughout the EU. (p. 11) |
|
DIVERSITY & SOCIAL COHESION |
||
|
Centre Party |
||
|
Original Text Maahanmuutosta on Keskustan mielestä käytävä avointa ja rehellistä keskustelua, rasismia emme hyväksy. (section 2.3) |
Unofficial Translation The Centre believes that there must be an open and honest debate on immigration, and we do not accept racism. (section 2.3) |
|
|
Left Alliance |
||
|
Original Text Vähennetään rasismia ja syrjintää... (p. 13) |
Unofficial Translation Reduce racism and discrimination... (p. 13) |
|
|
Swedish People’s Party of Finland |
||
|
Original Text Vastustamme rasismia ja toisiin ihmisiin kohdistuvaa vihaa kaikissa muodoissa. (p. 10) |
Unofficial Translation We are opposed to racism and hatred towards other people in all forms. (p. 10) |
|
|
EU’S ROLE IN INTEGRATION |
||
|
Green League |
||
|
Original Text Vähemmistöjen oikeudet on turvattava kaikkialla EU:ssa, sielläkin, missä jäsenmaat ovat haluttomia toimimaan […] EU:n on sekä lainsäädännöllä että rahoituksensa ehtona edellytettävä sitoutumista rasismin, vihapuheen ja syrjinnän vastaiseen työhön. Varmistetaan vähemmistöjen ja alkuperäiskansojen osallisuus ja kuuleminen EU:n päätöksenteossa. Luodataan tälle osallistumiselle selkeitä kanavia. |
Unofficial Translation Minority rights must be safeguarded throughout the EU, even where Member States are reluctant to act [...] The EU must, both by legislation and as a condition of its funding, commit itself to work on combatting racism, hate speech and discrimination. Ensuring the participation and consultation of minorities and indigenous peoples in EU decision-making. Clear channels are created for this participation. |
|
|
Left Alliance |
||
|
Original Text Koska aikamme suurimmat haasteetylittävät valtioiden rajat, myös niiden ratkaisuton tehtäväyli rajojen […] vastentahtoinen siirtolaisuus […] rasismi ja valeuutiset, eivät ole ratkaistavissa kansallisesti. Euroopan unioni tarjoaa yhden tärkeän areenan kansainvälisten ongelmien ratkomiselle. (p. 1) EU:n pitää […] toimia määrätietoisesti syrjintää ja rasismia vastaan. (p. 1) Vuonna 2040 kaikki Euroopan unionin jäsenmaat noudattavat oikeusvaltioperiaatteita ja kunnioittavat ihmisoikeuksia. Rasismia ja vähemmistöjen syrjintää vastaan tehdään jatkuvasti töitä. (p. 11) |
Unofficial Translation Since the greatest challenges of our time go beyond national borders, their solutions must also be made across borders [...] forced migration [...] racism and false news cannot be resolved nationally. The European Union offers one important arena for solving international problems. (p. 1)
The EU must [...] act decisively against discrimination and racism. (p. 1) In 2040, all European Union member states will respect the rule of law and respect human rights. Work is constantly under way to combat racism and discrimination against minorities. (p. 11) |
|
|
Swedish People’s Party of Finland |
||
|
Original Text Haluamme EU:n kattavaa keskustelua tietoisista kotouttamispanostuksista. (p. 11) Haluamme, että EU:ssa noudatetaan UNHCR:n suosituksia pakolaisten vastaanottamisesta ja vahvistetaan turva- ja kotouttamisprosesseja turvapaikkaprosessin aikaisen turvallisuuden takaamiseksi ja kansalaisuudettomuuden ehkäisemiseksi. (p. 11) |
Unofficial Translation We want a comprehensive EU debate on conscious integration efforts. (p. 11)
We want the EU to follow the UNHCR recommendations on the reception of refugees and to strengthen security and integration processes to ensure security during the asylum process and to prevent statelessness. (p. 11) |
|
The Swedish People’s Party of Finland highlights the need for active labour market integration measures.
|
EMPLOYMENT |
|
|
Swedish People’s Party of Finland |
|
|
Original Text Haluamme aktiivisempia maahanmuuttajien kotouttamistoimenpiteitä, jotka mahdollistavat työmarkkinoille pääsyn ja yhteiskunnallisen osallistumisen. (p. 10) |
Unofficial Translation We want more active integration measures for immigrants, enabling access to the labour market and social participation. (p. 10)
|
The Swedish People’s Party also makes general statements related to migration and integration that do not belong to a particular category.
|
OTHER |
|
|
Swedish People’s Party of Finland |
|
|
Original Text Toimiva maahanmuuttopolitiikka on voimavara ja resurssi. (p. 10) Haluamme myös, että kaikki kantavat vastuuta kaikkein heikoimmassa asemassa olevista. (p. 10) |
Unofficial Translation A functioning immigration policy is a resource. (p. 10)We also want everyone to take responsibility for the most vulnerable. (p. 10) |
Elections for the Finnish parliament were held on April 14, followed by negotiations for the formation of the new government, resulting in a five-party coalition government led by the Social Democrats. The EU Parliament elections have clearly taken a backseat to the government formation process, but turnout was still up from the 2014 elections.
See the party programmes: National Coalition Party, Swedish People’s Party of Finland, Centre Party, Left Alliance, Green League, Social Democratic Party, Christian Democrats, Finns Party
Curious about political parties in other EU countries? See the analyses for other Member States.
Details
- Publication dates
- Geographic area
- Finland
- Posted by