Sweden to condition foreign aid on expulsion cooperation

Receiving foreign aid from Sweden will soon depend on whether the recipient country accepts the repatriation of its citizens, such as asylum seekers and migrants deemed a security risk, according to the centre-right government and its parliamentary ally, the far-right Sweden Democrats, on Thursday.

“Sweden’s aid policy is undergoing a historic change”, said Aron Emilsson from the Sweden Democrats, adding that aid will now work to reduce the root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement.

“Aid will be made more conditional on recipient countries taking back their own citizens,” he said at a press conference with the other parties to the government’s proposal.

Sweden is ruled by a centre-right coalition made of the Moderates (EPP), the Christian Democrats (EPP) and the Liberals (Renew Europe). However, for them to form their coalition, they rely on the support of the far-right Sweden Democrats (ECR) in exchange for the application of their migration policy.

“It does not make sense to give aid to states that work against Swedish interests,” said Emilsson, adding that the previous government had failed to make aid more conditional.

Sweden’s Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Minister Johan Forssell of the Moderate Party said he is open to cutting off funds to countries that do not cooperate with Sweden in fighting corruption or ensuring democratic development.

“If we find that countries are not interested, we should ask ourselves: should we really be in that country? Or can we use our resources elsewhere where there is a greater willingness to reform?” he asked, adding that this was also part of the change being driven from Stockholm.

The minister also announced that bilateral aid would be limited to 30 countries.

“We will make sure that Swedish taxpayers’ money always achieves the best possible results,” Forssell concluded.

(Charles Szumski | Euractiv.com)

Read more with Euractiv

Pro-Russian parties block Bulgarian parliament over Soviet monument demolition