Norway has made a significant decision regarding its asylum policy for Ukrainians. The country has announced that it will no longer automatically grant asylum to individuals coming from the six “safe” regions in Ukraine. This is a major shift in policy, given that Norway has welcomed around 85,000 Ukrainians over the past two and a half years, according to the government in Oslo.
The new policy was announced following a significant decrease in the number of arrivals from Ukraine by 40% over the last twelve months. This decline is attributed to a series of cutbacks to benefits and accommodations offered to asylum seekers. However, recent weeks have seen an increase in the number of arrivals.
Norway’s Minister of Justice and Public Security, Emilie Mehl, stated that “immigration must be controlled and sustainable” and should not disproportionately exceed numbers in other European countries. As a result, asylum seekers from Ukraine will now be treated on par with other asylum seekers.
This means that Ukrainians will no longer automatically be granted refugee status but will instead undergo “a specific and individual assessment.” Those from regions deemed safe by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) will be denied asylum if they do not have a personal need for protection.
According to Mehl, certain parts of Ukraine are heavily impacted by the war, while others are less affected. People coming from areas considered safe by UDI will be treated in the same manner as those seeking asylum from other countries. Currently, six regions are classified as safe: Lviv, Volyn, Transcarpathia, Ivano-Frankovsk, Tarnopol, and Rovno – all located in the west of Ukraine.
Although about 10% of Ukrainians arriving in Norway this year are from these six regions, the new policy will not be applied retroactively. However, Norway is making changes to the status of all refugees with the intention of ensuring good integration and easing pressure on its dwindling resources.
Labor and Social Inclusion Minister Tonje Brenna highlighted that Norwegian municipalities are nearing capacity, with housing in short supply and increased pressure on welfare services. As a result, Ukrainians coming to Norway must learn the Norwegian language, find work, and pursue education to integrate fully into society.
The government in Oslo plans to continue supporting Ukraine, but it needs to secure the support of the Norwegian population as the conflict seems set to persist indefinitely. Meanwhile, several European countries that initially welcomed Ukrainian refugees with generous welfare benefits have begun cutting back on aid and threatening repatriation for fighting-age men at the request of Kiev.
Last month, Hungary ended housing subsidies for thousands of Ukrainian refugees from western regions, declaring them safe enough to return home. As European countries grapple with the ongoing refugee crisis and its implications for social services and resources, Norway’s policy change reflects an attempt to balance support for Ukraine with the needs of its own citizens.