Sweden's EU immigration plans facing headwinds[fr][de] 

Sweden has one of Europe's most liberal asylum policies, and intends to push for a comprehensive Common Asylum System when it takes the EU's helm on 1 July (EurActiv 10/06/09).

The Swedish government has outlined its progressive ambitions on immigration, arguing for a "humane refugee policy," and emphasising that "the current trend in Europe to close more borders must be opposed". 

However, the government is also issuing a clear warning to its EU partners, stating that "if Sweden has to shoulder a disproportionate share of the responsibility for refugee situations […] this will eventually raise questions about the sustainability of our asylum system".

The solution, argues Sweden, is obvious: "All EU member states must share the responsibility for offering protection for refugees." This, says the presidency, is why common rules for EU countries will be its goal. 

Sweden has considerable "moral authority" on this issue, according to Bjarte Vandvik, secretary-general of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), an NGO. Speaking to EurActiv, Vandvik noted that "if you look at numbers, Sweden takes the same number of asylum seekers per capita as Malta, or even more". 

Indeed, the European Commission yesterday called for a JHA programme which moves "towards a common asylum system" and insists on "burden-sharing and solidarity between member states". 

Political will not there, say experts 

However, while the Swedish Presidency has lofty ambitions, there is very little chance of these targets being met, according to an immigration expert contacted by EurActiv. 

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said that the Stockholm Programme "encapsulates all the good intentions" about harmonising and working together on protection issues for refugees, migration, and so on. 

"At the same time, however, we know that there is no real political will, let alone consensus, in the Council to make this happen," they added. 

All previous efforts to harmonise EU immigration and asylum systems have failed and are reflected in "the fact that the Commission is currently so eager to show off" the new European Asylum Support Office (EASO), the source continued. 

"This is actually a red herring, basically giving the message that 'well, we didn't succeed in actually getting where we wanted with the Common Asylum System, but look at this wonderful office we created instead'."

Bjarte Vandvik agrees. "With the best of intentions for the Swedes, I think they're in a difficult position. They have a brand new Parliament which has yet to grasp the importance of these issues in a procedural way. And this Parliament is far more right-wing and conservative, and is likely to be more sceptical on these questions of harmonisation," the ECRE boss told EurActiv. 

He did, however, think that "something manageable like the question of resettlement - taking refugees out of camps, for instance, or deciding on the size of quotas for refugees - that has a chance to succeed".

A right-wing Europe 

The current political reality in the EU may also be a constraint for Sweden's ambitions. The centre-right currently leads 20 of 27 member states, and won a majority in last week's European Parliament elections (EurActiv 08/06/09). 

Traditionally, the centre-right has been more hardline on immigration and asylum issues, and a number of EU countries are likely to be vehemently opposed to the Swedish plans. 

"My greatest worry," said Bjarte Vandvik, is that the EU "will continue with this policy of just shutting the borders, as has been the case so far". 

"Making border controls efficient, making security measures efficient, and then not taking any steps on the other issues" would be a mistake, he argues. 

"I think a truly harmonised Common European Asylum System will not happen. It's still a pipe dream," Vandvik concluded. 

The Swedish EU Presidency "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," according to the presidency website. 

"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 statement concludes. 

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said that "in future, EU action must aim above all at delivering the best possible service to the citizen in an area of freedom, security and justice more tangible for the citizens". 

"We want to promote citizens' rights, make their daily lives easier and provide protection, and this calls for effective and responsible European action in these areas. In this context, I consider immigration policy particularly important. This is the vision the Commission is presenting to the Council and Parliament for debate, with a view to the adoption of the new Stockholm Programme by the European Council in December 2009," he said. 

Bjarte Vandvik, ECRE  (European Council on Refugees and Exiles) secretary-general, told EurActiv that "the old JHA divide between the north and south of Europe is less evident today than in previous years. If you look at numbers, Sweden takes the same number of asylum seekers per capita as Malta, or even more". 

He added that "the smaller states in the south, certainly, are calling for greater support from their wealthier neighbours".