Norway tightens borders after Sweden move
The Local Norway - [email protected]
Published: 25 Nov, 2015 CET.
Updated: Wed 25 Nov 2015 09:07 CET
Following Sweden’s announcement that it can no longer handle its refugee situation and will implement stricter asylum rules, Norway will increase its border controls beginning on Thursday.
All ferry arrivals from Sweden, Denmark and Germany will be subject to checks by Norwegian officials and popular land crossings will also see increased controls, PM Erna Solberg said.
“We are implementing border controls at all ferry points. That means that people will have to document who they are when they come,” the PM told broadcaster NRK.
“What Sweden is now threatening will quickly have repercussions for Norway and therefore I have asked the justice minister to begin initiatives,” she added.
Solberg said just one week ago that it was “a misperception” that implementing border controls will bring down the number of asylum seekers coming to any given nation.
“Our Schengen border at Storskog has full border controls, but many asylum seekers come anyway. People think that putting in controls will mean fewer asylum seekers. That isn’t correct,” she told VG.
The PM said on Tuesday that Sweden’s decision could help Norway.
“Now that Sweden has implemented border controls, it will help us. But it could also mean that more people will come to Norway via boat from Germany and Denmark. [We are putting in controls] to keep the Danish ferry and the Kiel ferry from becoming the new influx point,” Solberg told NRK.
Solberg stressed that Norway would continue to follow the Dublin convention and send refugees back to Sweden if it was used as a transit country.
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All ferry arrivals from Sweden, Denmark and Germany will be subject to checks by Norwegian officials and popular land crossings will also see increased controls, PM Erna Solberg said.
“We are implementing border controls at all ferry points. That means that people will have to document who they are when they come,” the PM told broadcaster NRK.
“What Sweden is now threatening will quickly have repercussions for Norway and therefore I have asked the justice minister to begin initiatives,” she added.
Solberg said just one week ago that it was “a misperception” that implementing border controls will bring down the number of asylum seekers coming to any given nation.
“Our Schengen border at Storskog has full border controls, but many asylum seekers come anyway. People think that putting in controls will mean fewer asylum seekers. That isn’t correct,” she told VG.
The PM said on Tuesday that Sweden’s decision could help Norway.
“Now that Sweden has implemented border controls, it will help us. But it could also mean that more people will come to Norway via boat from Germany and Denmark. [We are putting in controls] to keep the Danish ferry and the Kiel ferry from becoming the new influx point,” Solberg told NRK.
Solberg stressed that Norway would continue to follow the Dublin convention and send refugees back to Sweden if it was used as a transit country.
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