Major Overhaul in Swedish Migration Policy Announced
Yesterday, Maria Malmer Stenergard, the Swedish Migration Minister, and Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats (SD), made headline news. They announced a series of big-ticket investments tied to Sweden’s 2024 budget bill that promise to radically change the face of migration policy in the country. Indeed, it seems Sweden is stepping up to create a “paradigm shift” in migration policy.
The Key Changes Coming
So, what are the big-ticket items coming up in 2024? Well, first off, they’re planning to establish reception centers for asylum seekers. Secondly, there will be a greater focus on returning asylum seekers to their home countries, along with a substantial increase in detention places. This certainly shakes things up within Sweden’s migration policy.
As Stenergard explains, the concept is simple: all asylum seekers will live in specially designed reception centers, ending the EBO Act – the policy that allows asylum seekers to settle wherever they choose with grants from the municipality and the state.
“This is a crucial part because a significant majority of those who arrive have no grounds for asylum and thus must return,” says Malmer Stenergard.
On top of that, the total investment rockets around 13.8 billion SEK allocated to various parts of the migration policy.
Building Return Centers
One investment that really caught the public eye was the plan for so-called return centers for asylum seekers whose applications for residence permits were rejected. The feed earmarked for this purpose alone stunningly pumps to 295 million SEK for 2024.
“It will be a very clear indication that the asylum process is over and that it is now a matter of returning,” says Åkesson.
Both Stenergard and Åkesson believe this bold move will lead Sweden a significant step closer to the major “paradigm shift” in migration policy.
A ‘Win-Win’ for the Government and SD
Åkesson credited the SD’s involvement in shaping the new directives and was delighted with the proposals. This will increase funding for cooperation with asylum seekers’ countries, facilitating the return process for those whose applications are rejected.
Jimmie Åkesson heartily stressed,
“this paradigm shift that we demanded is, in fact, entirely what the Tidö Agreement migration policy contains.”
Migration Costs to Decrease?
Ironically, despite this extensive outlay, Stenergard is surprised that policy area expenditures are expected to plunge from 16 billion in 2021 to approximately 14 billion in 2024.
“While asylum seekers are rapidly increasing throughout Europe, Sweden has a decrease of about 25% this year. We expect that decline to continue” notes Stenergard.
No doubt, the coming months will prove very interesting for Sweden’s expat community as these proposed changes begin to play out. As always, we’ll be here to keep you informed every step of the way.
Snapshot of Tidö Parties’ Proposed Investments
Here’s a quick look at the major investments related to migration policy in the 2024 budget bill:
– Special reception centers for asylum seekers – 511 million SEK from 2024-2026.
– More storage places – 125 million SEK in 2025-2026.
– Return centers – 514 million SEK in 2024-2025, 320 million SEK from 2026.
– Collaboration with third countries on return – 25 million SEK in 2024.
– Increased allocation for Migration Agency – 75 million SEK from 2024-2026.
