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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #0525/01 2380737
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 260737Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7732
INFO RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN IMMEDIATE 2549
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI IMMEDIATE 8097
RUEHRK/AMEMBASSY REYKJAVIK IMMEDIATE 0885
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM IMMEDIATE 3422

UNCLAS OSLO 000525 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/NB 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PREF NO
SUBJECT: NORWAY'S IMMIGRATION POLICY A HOT TOPIC IN PUBLIC 
DEBATE 
 
REF: OSLO 522 
 
 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY.  Due to a significant increase in the number 
of immigrants seeking asylum in Norway and news reports of 
generous welfare payments, the right of center "Progress 
Party" (FrP) has been largely successful in driving the 
public debate on Norway's integration and immigration policy. 
 FrP's proposed radical solutions, such as sending asylum 
seekers to Africa as their applications are processed, have 
captured the public's attention and stimulated the debate. 
FrP's proposals have prompted other parties to stake out 
their own policies in advance of Norway's national 
parliamentary elections September 14.  The Socialist Left 
Party (SV), for example, believes Norway's immigration 
policies are actually too constrictive and do not reflect 
this prosperous country's full capacity to provide refuge to 
those in need.  This cable provides a snapshot of Norway's 
current integration and immigration debate and presents how 
the main political parties have staked out positions on these 
issues.  END SUMMARY 
 
Significant Increase in Asylum Seekers and GON Response 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶2. (U) In September 2008, the GON put forward a 13-point plan 
to halt the influx of asylum seekers, dispel the perception 
that Norway had the most lax entry policy, and prevent Norway 
from taking in a disproportionate number of such migrants. 
Subsequently, throughout 2008 and up to July 2009, most of 
these efforts were implemented.  The efforts included 
fast-tracking applications, which usually leads to a 
rejection of the application.  The result is that fewer 
applicants will now be able to obtain permits to remain in 
Norway on humanitarian grounds - a status short of asylum 
that comes with generous benefits and certain obligations. 
Separately, in May 2009, the GON finalized an MOU with Iraq 
on returning Iraqi asylum seekers, allowing final rejection 
of those applications. 
 
¶3. (U) For the calendar year up until 31 July 2009, 9,825 
people have so far sought asylum in Norway, a large increase 
over the same period in 2008, and 7,567 asylum cases have 
been processed.  Of these, 1,100 were granted asylum; 1,754 
were granted permits based on humanitarian grounds or "other 
protection" grounds such as the security situation; 2,980 
were denied asylum; and 1,530 were categorized as Dublin II 
cases, and sent back to their original Dublin II Regulation 
Country of Entry. 
 
¶4.  (U) With the increased arrivals, Norway's current asylum 
centers are near full capacity.  In June 2009, the Norwegian 
Directorate of Immigration (UDI) proposed to use boats, tent 
camps, and school residence halls to house the asylum seekers 
in order to handle the increase.  UDI has asked 
municipalities to identify facilities to house new 
immigrants.  A small number of communities have expressed 
opposition to UDI's request, claiming that the opening of an 
asylum center would compromise the quality of life and 
security for residents and give the municipalities a bad 
reputation. 
 
Right-of-center Progress Party Stirs Debate 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U) One of Norway's largest parties, FrP, is now the 
largest opposition party, polling at some 25-30 percent of 
the popular vote.  The party has made increased integration 
of existing immigrants into Norway and reform of immigration 
policies a central component of its platform.  A spokesman 
for FrP said July 11 that the GON should establish asylum 
seekers, processing centers in Uganda and Tanzania, with the 
rationale that Norway provides them direct aid and they are 
relatively stable countries.  The spokesperson stated this 
would result in a drop in the number of people seeking asylum 
in Norway.  The current "Red-Green" coalition of PM 
Stoltenberg strongly criticized FrP's proposal, saying that 
the GON cannot justify sending an asylum seeker to another 
country.  The Deputy Minister of Welfare Policy Measures 
Laila Gustavsen (also of the Labor Party) calls FrP's 
proposal unrealistic and irresponsible, pointing out that it 
is not illegal to seek asylum.  Nikolai Astrup of the 
moderate opposition Conservative Party (Hoyre) declared that 
the FrP proposal was immoral and does not address the issue 
at hand.  Trine Skei Grande of the Liberal Party (Venstre) 
maintained that the proposal is foolish, completely 
impractical, and a clear violation of international laws and 
regulations. 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU) FrP's suggestion to send asylum seekers from any 
region to Africa while they await action on their 
applications is consistent with the party's general plan for 
handling immigration policy and responding to what they call 
the "Islamization of Norwegian society."  According to media 
reporting, FrP would like to decrease federal funding to the 
Islamic Council of Norway, heighten control of mosques, ban 
serving halal food in prisons, adopt mandatory health checks 
for Muslim children in order to prevent female genital 
mutilation, establish a minimum age limit of 24 for arranged 
marriages, and require mandatory testing for refugees on 
Norwegian language and culture as a condition of their 
continued legal residence.  Siv Jensen, party leader of FrP, 
declared that an FrP government would only admit 1,000 
refugees a year. 
 
Mindset of the Red-Green Coalition 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (SBU) As the largest party in the three-party coalition 
government, the Labor Party is being held largely responsible 
in the media for measures implemented so far to try to curb 
the steady stream of asylum applicants coming to Norway.  The 
party has said that it is vital for the government to reduce 
the processing time of asylum applications and to improve the 
capacity of asylum centers across Norway.  PM Jens 
Stoltenberg (Labor) stated he would like to grant asylum to 
those in need.  He remarked that many asylum seekers are, 
however, not actually in need of protection and asserted that 
asylum seekers without a valid residence permit should be 
returned to their home countries. 
 
¶8.  (U) The overnment would also like to address the issue 
of integration of current immigrants into Norwegian society. 
For instance, Labor Party politician Hadia Tajik believes it 
is necessary to have a dialogue with mothers of immigrant 
backgrounds in order to combat the rash of forced marriages. 
The Center Party (Sp) supports measures that would provide 
women a better opportunity to learn the Norwegian language, 
values, and societal norms.  The other government coalition 
partner SV asserts that the party will help women of minority 
backgrounds to become financially independent, to have full 
access to participate in social life, and to have complete 
control over their bodies and sexuality.  SV and Sp are also 
in support of local integration, education, and recruitment 
programs that help youth and adults continue their education 
and find jobs. 
 
Party views on immigration policy 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (U) SV would like to reverse legislation that tightened 
Norwegian asylum policy and for Norway to have a more 
humanitarian immigration policy.  In their working program 
for the next Parliament period 2009 - 2013, SV states that as 
long as the security situation remains unstable in 
Afghanistan, Norway must not deport Afghan asylum seekers. 
SV also would like gender-based persecution in her home 
country to serve as a basis for a woman's right to be granted 
asylum, and advocates allowing dual citizenship, contrary to 
Norway's current policy.  Hoyre prefers a tighter immigration 
policy that encourages skilled migrants, similar to the UK's 
shift in immigration policy.  Party leader Erna Solberg would 
like the government to take a tougher approach on asylum 
seekers who arrive without identification papers and do away 
with laws such as the one that grants people asylum if their 
application processing time takes more than 15 months. 
Despite these differences, the parties are in agreement that 
refugees and asylum seekers should learn Norwegian while 
resident in asylum centers and that they should receive more 
incentives and assistance to find employment. 
 
Election Outcome Will Set Tone for Future Debate 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
¶10. (SBU) As reported in reftel, parliamentary elections are 
scheduled for September 14.  The Red-Green Coalition of Ap, 
Sp, and SV hope to continue their governing coalition, and 
would likely make minor continued adjustments to existing 
immigration and integration policy.  The FrP, as reported 
reftel, could potentially create a government with certain 
other parties in the opposition, including Hoyre.  However, 
the relatively moderate Venstre and KrF have declared they 
will not work with a government that includes FrP, deeming 
the FrP's policies as too radical.  Even if the center-right 
parties are able to come together with a common platform to 
 
form a government, it is unlikely that FrP's more radical 
immigration policy ideas would be implemented due to sharp 
opposition from other political parties in parliament and 
Norway's predominantly consensus-based political and 
legislative process. 
HEG