"Integration Doesn't Work." Conservative Party Calls for Changes. The New Rules Would Also Affect Poles

During her first speech as party leader, Søreide admitted that the current policy has not delivered the expected results. She stated that today she views these issues differently than 10 or 20 years ago. Together with the new vice-chairpersons, she presented the direction of the changes. The Conservative Party wants to make family reunification more difficult and tighten requirements for refugees and asylum seekers.

The party leadership presented five proposals. One of them involves tightening the rules for family reunification. The Conservative Party wants, as a rule, to deny family reunification to unaccompanied minors applying for asylum. They also plan to raise the income requirement for those bringing relatives to Norway.

Other proposals concern the settlement locations for refugees. The party wants to prevent refugees from being settled in municipalities with a high percentage of immigrants. They also propose introducing a so-called citizen contract with clearly defined obligations. Benefits would be paid only in the first municipality of settlement for the first ten years of residence.

Søreide emphasizes that many immigrants neither work nor study. She also points to insufficient language proficiency. In her view, integration must work better.

Minister of Labor and Integration Kjersti Stenseng from the Labour Party assessed the proposals as measures already being implemented by the government. She pointed to work on a new integration benefit with an activity requirement. She recalled changes to the income requirement and the integration declaration. She added that the government is in the process of implementing these solutions.

The Conservative Party emphasizes the need to introduce sanctions for violating the rules of the citizen contract. Søreide speaks of clear expectations for people coming to Norway. Deputy leader Ola Svenneby draws attention to the risk of parallel societies emerging. The party wants to limit relocations by linking part of the benefits to the place of residence.

Henrik Asheim stresses the importance of accepting Norwegian liberal values. He points to the obligation to obey the law, including the freedom to choose a spouse. He notes that one does not have to share these values, but they must be respected. Søreide rejects accusations of toughening the course and emphasizes that the goal is not severity, but the effectiveness of actions.