Migration and asylum policy

Swedish migration policy in a broad sense covers refugee and immigration policy, as well as return and support for repatriation. It also includes cooperation at international level on these issues.

By its nature, migration and asylum policy is a cross-border issue. People are continually moving from one country to another. Some are forced to flee persecution, while others move for economic and social reasons. They may do so to start a family, work or study in another country. They may also move to another country in the general hope of finding better prospects for the future. Migration often has a major impact on the development of both countries of origin and countries of destination.
The objectives of migration policy are:

• to safeguard the right to seek asylum in Sweden and internationally
• to maintain regulated immigration
• to introduce greater possibilities for labour immigration
• to increase the harmonisation of asylum and migration policy in the EU

Sweden will operate a humane refugee policy and be a place of refuge for people fleeing from persecution and oppression. Sweden will also safeguard the possibility of seeking asylum and oppose the trend in Europe to close more borders. However, migration policy in Sweden and in the world must be more than just asylum policy.

Sweden will take its share of the responsibility for the international protection of refugees, but if Sweden has to shoulder a disproportionate share of the responsibility for refugee situations around the world in relation to comparable countries, this will eventually raise questions about the sustainability of our asylum system. All EU Member States must share the responsibility for offering protection for refugees. This is why common rules for the countries in the EU are one of the Government's main objectives in the area of migration.

The Government's starting point is that immigration helps to vitalise the labour market and the economy as a result of the new knowledge and experience that new arrivals bring from their home countries. It must be easier for citizens of countries outside the EU and the EEA to come to Sweden to work. The present system is far too restrictive and does not take sufficient account of an employer's need for labour. The Government is now in the midst of work to prepare a reform to make more labour immigration possible.