Finland, Russia discuss migration cooperation

Permanent Secretary to the Interior Ministry Päivi Nerg on Wednesday met Russian First-Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Aleksandr Gorovoy in Moscow to discuss cooperation in migration issues between the neighbouring countries, said an official press release.

The duties of the migration administration under the auspices of First-Deputy Minister Gorovoy are very similar to those of the Finnish Immigration Service.

"First-Deputy Minister Gorovoy and I discussed migration policy, administration and practices in our countries. In my view, this type of information exchange is important — the more we understand and know about each other’s legislation and practices, the more effective our cooperation in the field of migration will be", said Nerg.

In March 2016, Finland and Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further develop and deepen cooperation in migration issues.

To implement the Memorandum of Understanding, meetings and seminars will be organised focussing on exchange of information and experience. In connection with the meeting of the Permanent Secretary and the First-Deputy Minister, there was also a bilateral expert-level meeting on readmission issues.

Nerg also visited the multifunctional migration centre in Moscow, the largest migration centre in Russia which processes applications for work and residence permits. At the centre, residence permit applicants take language and cultural tests and undergo medical examination as part of the permit process.