Norway sees surge of immigrants

Norway, the Scandinavian country which has been attracting a lot of immigrants, is comfortably coping with it.

The world’s fourth richest country, with a population slightly over five million, has of date 848,207 immigrants living on its shores, say the government statistics. In other words, non-Norwegians comprise 17 per cent of the population.

Though the country contributes over £400 million a year for access to the EU as it signed the EEA-treaty with EU, it is allowed to function on the European free market.

MailOnline was quoted as saying that EU, in turn, allows Norway to handle its oil and fishing industries without any interference.

The reason behind its rising migration figures is that it has an unemployment rate of only four per cent and is a nation which is rich in oil resources. Besides, it also has a very handsome welfare system in place. Those on welfare get £1500 a month in addition to child benefits and free healthcare.

According to Robert Eriksson, Norwegian Labour and Social Affairs minister, 37 percent of those benefiting from the system are immigrants.

In addition, despite not being a part of the European Union, it is a signatory of the Schengen Treaty, which allows free movement between the European countries.