Proposes more quota refugees – Dagsavisen

 
 

ARENDAL (Dagsavisen): As a result of last year’s high of asylum-seekers, Norway has upgraded the reception capacity in urban and rural areas.

 
 

This year, we were prepared against 30,000 asylum seekers, but it has only reached about 1,500 so far. It has led to emergency rooms are empty and caseworkers risks becoming redundant.

 
 

To avoid having to rearm – lay down – and gearing up again later, suggests Gunn Marit Helgesen, president of KS, Norway to accept more quota refugees.

 
 

– It is difficult for municipalities and state that you build up capacity, so having staff down and remove capacity. It is unwise. When it can turn so quickly, I believe we must be able to discuss whether there are quota refugees or other we can accommodate, so we have a constant level if the situation turns and leads to larger inflows again, says Helgesen Dagsavisen.

 
 

Read also: Listhaug: No reason to lower your shoulders

 
 

Issue

 
 

Helgesen says that municipalities today have many positions that are not filled up, and that this is starting to be problematic for them.

 
 

– The question is how much to downsize. Municipalities can not sit with empty seats. Immigration has increased the number of officers, but what will they do to ensure the necessary expertise now that it goes the other way? I think both we, UDI, IMDi and the government must bring to the fore what we can do. Today the system is vulnerable, she said.

 
 

UDI director Frode Forfang said during a debate in Arendal that the problem is not that there will be many, but unpredictability.

 
 

– The most challenging thing for us is unpredictability. There may be sudden changes, so we must be able to handle fluctuations in arrivals, said Forfang.

 
 

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Agile system

 
 

FRP explains why asylum seekers arriving rose sharply last year with the Labour Party at its congress in 2015 agreed to accept 10,000 quota refugees. Immigration Minister Sylvi Listhaug others, argue that signal the time went out, spread so many leave the route to get to Norway where it was welcomed.

 
 

QA Manager Helgesen believes Norway has a responsibility for the refugee situation in the world.

 
 

– Quota refugees are people who need protection. There may come a time that requires us to have a larger capacity, it is harder to build something than to remove it. That’s why I want a more flexible system. There are many countries that have a constant high level of asylum seekers. We must discuss how to allocate burdens, says Helgesen.

 
 

– Do you think this is a suggestion it is possible to discuss with Listhaug?

 
 

– Yes, I think so. There are acute crisis in many parts of the world. Parts of Europe are in a critical situation. This is not a proposal KS has passed, but a contribution to the debate. The question is how to maintain the capacity and knowledge so we do not end where we were last year, she said.

 
 

Read also: Fewest asylum seekers since 1997

 
 

KrF: Want more in 2017

 
 

Democratic Party leader Knut Arild Hareide supports the idea of ​​accepting more quota refugees. In his party leader speech in Arendal he made clear that this will be one of KrF’s requirements into the fall’s budget negotiations.

 
 

– The crisis in the world is more demanding than ever. Norway intended to receive 25,000 asylum seekers, but has received 1,500 so far is 23,500 fewer asylum seekers than we had expected. When the budget comes up, we must consider whether we can take any more. It’s reception capacity in municipalities.

 
 

Hareide will not quantify how many quota refugees he envisions that Norway should take in 2017.

 
 

– It is natural to hear with UNHCR on a professional evaluation, so I would not determine a number. Last year it was also so that the largest number of asylum seekers came between August and October. Therefore it is a good time to consider the number in October while the budget.

 
 

– Think KrF are heard this?

 
 

– We will lift it into the budget negotiations. All parties do not agree, but we will work for this.

 
 

Nor did he fear a signal effect if Norway were to open for more quota refugees.

 
 

– No, quota refugees are those who have protection needs. I do not believe it triggers a signal effect.

 
 

Helgesen in KS like tones from Hareide.

 
 

– It is interesting though several parliamentarians traveling this debate. It is important to discuss what is wise to do, she said.

 
 

Labor leader Jonas Gahr Støre not share KS and Hareide’s vision.

 
 

– I think we should stick to decisions taken and implement the commitments we have undertaken. It’s about accepting quota refugees from Syria that Parliament agrees on, and deal with settlement and integration of those who came last fall. This is not the time to change this, says Støre.

 
 

Read also: Fewer smuggled across the border