Finland

A new law has recently come into force in Finland that expands health care for undocumented migrants living in the country. Under this law, undocumented people can now access necessary care ñ that is, care that health care professionals deem necessary.

In the framework of the EUROMED Migration V project, trainings to sensitise journalists and media professionals about the benefits of promoting a balanced narrative on migration are organised. Public Communicatorsí Workshops are developed to highlight the central role of public communicators in informing the public debate on migration, and in shaping people's perceptions of migration.

Making migration and mobility positive forces for development
1. Bring together representatives of diaspora communities and governments of countries of origin and destination for round-table debates on sharing best practices and on recognising the role and needs of diaspora communities in development and investment in countries of origin as well as in integration in the host societies.

In Finland, a residence permit on compassionate grounds may be granted as a residual and final step of the asylum procedure, after the refugee claim under international and regional refugee law has been rejected. It can be granted for reasons related to medical conditions, ties to Finland or other individual compassionate grounds, particularly in consideration of the circumstances a person would face in the home country or the vulnerable situation of the individual.   

Public Services International (PSI), in collaboration with ILO's European Union-funded “Decent Work Across Borders” (DWAB) project has produced seven pre-decision, pre-departure, and return migration guides for healthcare workers.

The IGC is an informal, non-decision making forum for intergovernmental information exchange and policy debate on issues of relevance to the management of international migratory flows.

The IGC brings together 16 Participating States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the European Commission. The Participating States are Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States of America.

FUNZI  is a joint initiative by a start up and the government of Finland to carve a map of the places where refugees are arriving in Finland and to provide them all the information they need on the country. In 2015, they launched a mobile information and learning service for asylum seekers and refugees.  The information for the newcomers on the country is in several languages. 

The EU Immigration Portal serves as a first point of entry to reliable, practical and up-to-date information on immigration issues. It provides useful basic information written in user-friendly language and gives rapid and direct access to relevant external websites for further information. In concrete terms, the portal helps potential migrants to:

- Better understand the EU admission rules and procedures;

- Identify job and study opportunities;

- Find information on the rights of non-EU citizens who are in the EU;

Launched in 1994, EURES is a European cooperation network of employment services, designed to facilitate the free movement of workers. The network has always worked hard to ensure that European citizens can benefit from the same opportunities, despite language barriers, cultural differences, bureaucratic challenges, diverse employment laws and a lack of recognition of educational certificates across Europe.

This web portal provides information on access to job opportunities in 32 European countries. It also promotes the cooperation amongst national employment agencies.

The purpose of the Future of Migration 2020 project (launched in spring 2012) was to draw up a Migration Strategy for Finland. Work on the Strategy was completed in late spring 2013 and it was adopted in the form of a Government Resolution on 13 June 2013.

This paper was coordinated by the Finnish Ministry of Interior, including a development strategy.