Integration policies : Sweden country report

Abstract

Since new rules on labour migration came into force in 2008, Sweden’s migration policy has been recognised as being among the most open and liberal in the OECD countries (OECD 2011). Sweden also has a generous asylum system compared with other EU countries, taking large numbers of refugees from countries in conflict such as Iraq and Somalia. Integration is a political priority in Sweden, and is high on the political agenda. The goal of Sweden’s integration policies is to ‘ensure equal rights, obligations and opportunities for all, irrespective of their ethnic and cultural background’. The country report provides a very brief overview of Swedish integration policies with a special emphasis on cooperation with the States and communities of origin. Particular attention is given by the author to developments that are relevant for the main INTERACT countries of origin.