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NORWAY
1. INVOLUNTARY RETURN
1.1 POLICY
275
NORWAY
Norway faces the same immigration challenges as many other Western European countries,
namely a need to manage the growing numbers of asylum seekers, most of whom have
unfounded claims, contain the incidence of undocumented immigration and strengthen partnerships
with countries of origin and transit of the irregular migration.
There has been a steady rise in immigration over the past 30 years, and a change in the profile of
immigrants during that time, with asylum seekers outnumbering earlier traditional waves of
labour migrants.
Although asylum applications in Norway have tended to fluctuate over the past decade, the
overall increase has been substantial, from 2,271 applications in 1997 to its highest ever level –
17,480 applications in 2002. The majority of asylum claims were from Somali, Iraqi, Russian,
Serbian, Montenegrin and Kosovar nationals. Of these just 330 were granted asylum or refugee
status, while another 3,000 or so were granted protection on humanitarian grounds. A further
1,200 refugees were accepted in 2002 as part of the resettlement programme operated by UNHCR.
However, over 70 per cent (9,070) of all asylum decisions made in 2002 were negative, while
some 3,760 cases were refereed to other EU countries under the Dublin Convention.
The practice of the Norwegian authorities, in respect of unsuccessful asylum seekers, has generally
been to encourage voluntary departure after a negative decision of asylum has been
issued. The ability of the Norwegian immigration system to effectively process claims and
enforce decisions has, however, been compromised not only by the volume of applications but
also by attempts of the applicants to have unfavourable decisions reversed through appeals. For
example, 96 per cent of all initial rejected asylum decisions were appealed against in 2002.
But as stated, asylum is not the only area of migration posing difficulties for the Norwegian
authorities. Like most other European countries, Norway is confronted with the general problem
of undocumented migrants and associated difficulties of absconding of potential returnees,
establishing true identities and the reluctance of countries of origin to accept their returning
nationals.
Since 2000, new measures have been introduced to streamline the processing of asylum claims
and the appeals procedures, while also ensuring that due process is extended to asylum claimants.
In a report to the Storting in 2000, the Immigration Directorate (Utlendingsdirektoratet -