Persons in need of international protection could be admitted on grounds of work or studies – Finland explores the possibilities of testing the model

NordenBladet — At the initiative of the Ministry of the Interior, the Finnish Government commissioned a study examining the types of complementary pathways for legal migration available in different countries for use by people in need of international protection. The focus of the study was on labour-based and study-based complementary pathways. The results confirm that there is a need for legal pathways, as has been discussed in Finland, and they support the EU in seeking new solutions to migration.Examples of labour-based and study-based complementary pathways include recruitment channels and scholarship programmes, through which people in need of international protection can be admitted as workers and students, rather than as asylum seekers or quota refugees. The routes are referred to as complementary because they are not meant to substitute the refugee resettlement systems of different countries but rather complement them. Their purpose is to enable legal and safe admission. Complementary pathways combine humanitarian admission and competence-based migrationThe study shows that so far the labour-based or study-based complementary pathways in use in different countries are just isolated programmes and experiments. However, their number is growing rapidly, and complementary pathways have the potential of meeting the needs of both those qualifying for the arrangement and the host countries. In some cases, complementary pathways have helped countries address their shortage of healthcare labour.EU encourages Member States to develop complementary pathwaysThe European Commission issued a communication on a new pact on migration and asylum in 2020. It highlights the importance of developing complementary pathways to legal migration as part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to migration. The Commission also issued a separate recommendation on legal pathways to protection. It urges Member States to explore the possibilities of admitting those in need of international protection for labour purposes or for studies and encourages countries to share their experiences. Study supports joint EU effortsThe research team consisted of experts from the Rehabilitation Foundation, Oxford Research AB and the Migration Institute of Finland, along with an independent researcher, Dr Joanne van Selm, who specialises in migration and refugee matters. The steering group of the research project included representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.The research report was drawn up in English so that other countries, too, can make use of the information produced. Therefore, it will support the EU Member States’ joint efforts to find new solutions to migration.

Source: Valtioneuvosto.fi