The terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday November 13 will not affect the decision of the Icelandic government to accept Syrian refugees. Ólöf Nordal, the Minister of the Interior told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the government did not intend to reconsider the decision in light of the events in Paris. A government commission has recommended Iceland accept 55 Syrian refugees in this year and the next, as planned. Preparations for the arrival of the refugees have already begun.
Ólöf also rejected calls for the Schengen agreement to be either abolished or drastically revised as some have called for following the Paris attacks. Karl Garðarsson, an MP for the centre-right Progressive party which forms the ruling coalition with the conservative Independence party, has described the Schengen agreement as facing a crisis and having outlived its days. The Schengen agreement abolished internal border control within member countries. Ólöf argued that leaving the Schengen agreement would cause more problems for Iceland than it would solve.
Preparations for the arrival of the Syrian refugees are already in motion. The Directorate of Labour has advertised for employment and other support for the refugees, and municipalities which will be receiving the refugees have begun searching for housing for them.
The terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday November 13 will not affect the decision of the Icelandic government to accept Syrian refugees. Ólöf Nordal, the Minister of the Interior told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service that the government did not intend to reconsider the decision in light of the events in Paris. A government commission has recommended Iceland accept 55 Syrian refugees in this year and the next, as planned. Preparations for the arrival of the refugees have already begun.
Ólöf also rejected calls for the Schengen agreement to be either abolished or drastically revised as some have called for following the Paris attacks. Karl Garðarsson, an MP for the centre-right Progressive party which forms the ruling coalition with the conservative Independence party, has described the Schengen agreement as facing a crisis and having outlived its days. The Schengen agreement abolished internal border control within member countries. Ólöf argued that leaving the Schengen agreement would cause more problems for Iceland than it would solve.
Preparations for the arrival of the Syrian refugees are already in motion. The Directorate of Labour has advertised for employment and other support for the refugees, and municipalities which will be receiving the refugees have begun searching for housing for them.
