Finland’s government has launched plans to keep its controversial Border Security Act, widely known as the country’s “pushback law”, in force until the end of 2028, arguing that the threat of instrumentalised migration along its eastern border remains high.
The Ministry of the Interior opened a public consultation on Thursday on a draft proposal that would extend the law for another two years without changing its contents.
The government intends to submit the proposal to Parliament in September after the consultation closes on 14 August.
The Border Security Act entered into force on 22 July 2024 as a temporary measure and was initially valid for one year. Parliament later extended it until the end of 2026. The latest proposal would keep the legislation in place until 31 December 2028.
The law allows Finland, under specific conditions and following a separate government decision, to restrict the reception of applications for international protection in a limited section of the country’s border and the surrounding area.
The government says the legislation is intended to prevent what it describes as instrumentalised migration, where migrants are directed towards Finland’s border to place political pressure on the country.
Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said security authorities believe the threat is unlikely to disappear soon.
“The security authorities estimate that the threat of instrumentalised migration at Finland’s eastern border will remain high for quite some time. Rapid changes in the security situation are also not expected,” Rantanen said.
Finland closed all land border crossing points with Russia in stages during late 2023 after accusing Moscow of directing asylum seekers towards the frontier. Russia has rejected those allegations.
The crossings have remained shut since 15 December 2023 under a series of government decisions. The latest extension keeps the border closed until further notice.
People seeking international protection can still submit asylum applications at Finland’s other external border crossing points that remain open for air and maritime traffic.
Pushbacks — the forcible return of people across an international border without an assessment of their rights to apply for asylum or other protection — violate both international and EU law. However, EU members Poland, Latvia and Lithuania have previously resorted to the controversial measure when dealing with migrants attempting to enter from Belarus.
HT