On 7–8 October, the Council of Europe’s Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR) carried out a mission to Helsinki. Discussions focused on the integration of migrants and refugees, international protection, and the temporary protection provided to around 50,000 Ukrainians who have found refuge in Finland.
Despite cuts to state funding, responsibility for migrant integration has largely shifted to municipalities under the 2025 Integration Act. Municipalities promote integration through personalised integration plans for migrants and refugees, designed to help them develop the language and other skills needed to enter the labour market and gain a comprehensive understanding of Finnish society. Special support is available to people in the situation of vulnerability. Unaccompanied minors continue to receive care and housing through the wellbeing services counties until the age of 23, while victims of human trafficking receive individualised care tailored to their social, health and financial needs. Migrant and other civil society organisations also play an important role by providing migrants and refugees with information, counselling and support.
Topics discussed included the continued closure of land border crossing points between Finland and Russia under the 2025 Border Security Act, and the designation of the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman as the Independent Monitoring Mechanism for border procedures under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. Promising practices include refugee resettlement, with 500 quota refugees expected to arrive in Finland this year, and legal safeguards against childhood statelessness: under Finnish law, nationality is automatically granted to children who would otherwise be stateless.
The DMR delegation visited the City of Helsinki’s integration office and the Vallila Help Centre for Ukrainians. It also met with representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; the Interior; Economic Affairs and Employment; Education and Culture; and Social Affairs and Health, as well as with the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman and the Parliamentary Deputy Ombudsman. The delegation also held useful exchanges with representatives of civil society organisations, the UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic countries, and the International Organization for Migration.
Information on other DMR country missions and reports is available here.
