Not pursuing temp. border controls
Norway will not follow Sweden’s lead on borders
The Local
Norway is not considering following Sweden and imposing temporary border controls, the prime minister said on November 11.
“We are not considering anything new like that at the present moment,” Prime Minister Erna Solberg said on the sidelines of a summit in Malta.
“We have for the past two months had a border presence which is quite a lot bigger than earlier,” she said. “Whereas Sweden has not had the same level of escalation as we already have had.”
Sweden’s minister for home affairs, Anders Ygeman, told a press conference in Stockholm that border controls would take place on the Øresund Bridge that connects Denmark and Sweden, as well as the ferry terminals in southern Sweden.
The Swedish controls took effect on Nov. 12 and will initially apply for 10 days.
Solberg said that it was possible that Sweden’s decision would help Norway. “It may mean that many of those who are heading towards Norway will be stopped on some of these border crossings,” she said.
Norway’s parliamentary leaders met for two hours on Nov. 12 to discuss proposals on how to manage the refugee situation.
“What is important now is to do something about the influx across the border,” Harald Tom Nesvik, parliamentary leader for the Progress Party said.
The government has made 15 proposals on how to reduce arrival numbers and limit future influx, including increasing restrictions on family reunification, increasing the use of temporary residence permits, faster return of persons without a need for asylum, and cuts in benefits.
This article was originally published on The Local.
It also appeared in the Nov. 20, 2015, issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.
