Sweden used to be seen as one of Europe's most welcoming countries for refugees. However, a right-wing conservative government coalition propped up by a far-right party is changing Sweden's migration policy and hardening its stance towards migrants and asylum seekers.
All women and girls from Afghanistan are eligible for refugee status, the European Union’s agency for asylum has declared. But it's up to each country to decide whether it agrees.
The EU wants to use visas and development aid to pressure countries refusing to take back unqualified asylum seekers. Ursula von der Leyen has also said she wants the EU to present a list of "safe countries of origin," and boost border controls on the Mediterranean and Western Balkans routes.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on January 11 issued a statement urging Sweden’s rotating presidency of the European Union to safeguard those who are forced to flee their home countries.
As Sweden assumes the EU presidency, plans for a joint migration policy between member states face a huge setback. Meanwhile Denmark's new left-right coalition government looks to ease some of the country's harsh migration policies.
Sweden's ambassador to the EU told the Financial Times that there will not be any pact on migration during the six-month Swedish presidency of the EU Council.
Sweden takes over the rotating EU Presidency at the beginning of the new year. After a new government took power in October promising to get tougher on immigration, could those attitudes spill over into European policy next year?
Idris Hassan is an Iraqi Kurd. He arrived in Sicily in July 2022. Before that, he claims never to have been to Italy. He was living and working in Sweden, as a chef, before he was deported to Italy. His story is not the only case like this, say those who work at the reception center where he is living.
The number of deportation orders issued in the European Union is on the rise, according to Eurostat figures. Almost 100,000 people were ordered out of the 27-member bloc in the second quarter of 2022.
The nationalist Sweden Democrats party, lead by Jimmy Akesson, gained around 20% of the vote in Sweden's national elections held Sunday. The reason for this success is largely attributed to Akesson's appeal with an electorate that is disillusioned by the country's traditional parties and considerably less tolerant toward migrants.
The Swedish government has announced it plans to reintroduce checks at its border, as the number of refugees arriving from Ukraine increases.
Sweden is stopping all deportations to Afghanistan, citing the deteriorating security situation in the country. It comes after Finland last week became the first European country to announce a freeze on forced returns.