Norway’s Listhaug unveils tighter asylum rules

Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solber appointed Sylvi Listhau, a politician from the populist Progress Party, on the 16 December 2015 as the country’s first ever Immigration Minister, as the Norwegian government sought to bring in a tougher asylum policy. Sylvi Listhau was known for her anti-immigration views. She had criticised a 'tyranny of kindness that is blowing over Norwegian society like a nightmare'.

On the 29 December 2015 she unveiled tough asylum rules changes. She wanted parliament to adopt a bill in February 2016 to avoid 'violent consequences' for Norwegian society. She said that the legislative package amounted to a 'sharp retrenchment' on wide social entitlements previously granted to refugees.

The new law would also mean that Norway would turn back refugees without visas arriving from elsewhere in the passport-free Schengen zone, particularly Sweden.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Norway to clamp down on asylum 'misuse' http://www.europeansources.info/record/norway-to-clamp-down-on-asylum-misuse/

Norway: Government.no: Topics: Asylum regulations in Norway https://www.regjeringen.no/en/topics/asylum-regulations-in-norway/id2459233/

The Local.no, 16.12.15: Norway populists win new immigration ministry http://www.thelocal.no/20151216/norway-populists-win-new-immigration-ministry

EUObserver, 30.12.15: Norway turns back migrants without visas https://euobserver.com/migration/131686

The Local.no, 30.12.15: Norway to turn back asylum seekers at border http://www.thelocal.no/20151230/norway-to-turn-back-asylum-seekers-on-swedish-border

The Local.no, 30.12.15: Norway asylum policies 'a copy of Denmark' http://www.thelocal.no/20151230/norway-copying-denmarks-asylum-policies-expert

The Local.no, 30.12.15: Norway under fire over tough new asylum plans http://www.thelocal.no/20151230/norway-presents-strict-new-asylum-package

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The Local.no, 07.01.16: Norway: Up to 60,000 asylum seekers in 2016 http://www.thelocal.no/20160107/norway-expects-up-to-60000-asylum-seekers-in-2016

The Local.no, 04.01.16: Norway to send up to 5,000 refugees to EU http://www.thelocal.no/20160104/norway-to-send-up-to-5000-refugees-to-eu-countries

The Local.no, 25.01.16: Asylum seekers leave Norway over 'unrealistic perceptions' http://www.thelocal.no/20160125/over-800-asylum-seekers-withdrew-requests-from-norway

The Local.no, 24.01.16: Norway suspends return of migrants from Russia http://www.thelocal.no/20160124/norway-temporarily-halts-return-of-migrants-from-russia

The Local.no, 21.01.16: Migrants: Norway 'sending us to death' in Russia http://www.thelocal.no/20160121/migrants-norway-is-sending-us-to-death-in-russia

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