The Finnish authorities are planning to limit asylum applications.
Helsinki Times reports that the government has published a draft bill enabling it to deny entry to asylum seekers and significantly restrict the reception of asylum applications in circumstances where such measures are deemed necessary.
The bill will be open for comments until March 25.
Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that the four ruling parties approved the bill unanimously and that he is confident that it will become law.
However, ministers and government officials remarked that the bill is anomalous to the constitution and international treaties. The right to apply for asylum is protected under the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
However, the prime minister said, “We are having to balance national security, border security, international treaties, and human rights.”
