2024-05-222023/24:SfU14 · p.5SfUMigration & social insurance
EU's migration and asylum policy
The EU's new migration and asylum pact
What's at stake: The question is how responsibility for examining asylum applications should be shared among EU countries and how secondary movements and abuse of the asylum system should be countered, while still identifying and prioritising people in need of protection.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The motion demanded that Sweden push within the EU for the full application of the first-safe-country principle, including by stopping asylum seekers arriving from Denmark at Öresund, while the committee backed the recently agreed EU pact on migration and asylum.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee welcomes the fact that EU member states and the European Parliament have agreed on the most central legislative acts of the new migration and asylum pact, which will bring more efficient and uniform asylum examination, faster processing at the EU's external border, a support mechanism for member states under migratory pressure, and clearer responsibility rules, and therefore rejects the motion calling for further national measures.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 12 (SD)
The reserving party (SD) argues that the Dublin Regulation is not working and wants Sweden to push within the EU for a reform enabling the full application of the first-safe-country principle, for example by stopping asylum seekers at Öresund if they arrive directly from the safe country of Denmark, and wants reception outside the EU investigated in the longer term.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 12 by SD.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
What each plan points to — and how the party voted
For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | Yes | Abstain 0/0/19/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | Yes | Yes 93/0/0/13 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| MP | Yes | Abstain 0/0/16/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | Yes | Abstain 0/0/19/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | Yes | Yes 11/0/0/5 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| KD | No | Yes 17/0/0/2 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | No | Yes 60/0/0/8 | departs from the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| SD | No | No 0/62/0/10 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2023/24:390 by Ludvig Aspling and Nima Gholam Ali Pour (both SD) demands 2 and 3, 2023/24:462 by Håkan Svenneling et al. (V) demand 5, 2023/24:648 by Tony Haddou et al. (V) demands 1-5, 7-10 and 15-17, 2023/24:1114 by Boriana Åberg (M), 2023/24:2458 by Muharrem Demirok et al. (C) demand 39 and 2023/24:2491 by Jonny Cato et al. (C) demands 1-3 and 7.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:390 av Ludvig Aspling och Nima Gholam Ali Pour (båda SD) yrkandena 2 och 3, 2023/24:462 av Håkan Svenneling m.fl. (V) yrkande 5, 2023/24:648 av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V) yrkandena 1-5, 7-10 och 15-17, 2023/24:1114 av Boriana Åberg (M), 2023/24:2458 av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C) yrkande 39 och 2023/24:2491 av Jonny Cato m.fl. (C) yrkandena 1-3 och 7.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag said no to approximately 130 proposals in motions on migration issues from the general motion period 2023. The proposals concern, for example, permanent residence permits, information requirements, EU's migration and asylum policy, reception of asylum seekers, the asylum process, family immigration and Swedish citizenship. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to that work is already underway in areas that the motions address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the asylum system to be designed to prevent migration through multiple countries and VABO to be linked to a time-limited residence permit. (SD) — Reservation 12
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The election manifesto states that the right to asylum can never be compromised and that Sweden shall defend it when the EU builds walls.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto states that the right to asylum can never be compromised and that Sweden shall defend it when the EU builds walls. The counter-proposal's demands to fully apply first safe country, be able to stop persons coming from another safe country, and investigate reception outside the union stand in direct conflict with that commitment. The party programme also demands that everyone who seeks asylum is guaranteed an individual and lawful review.
Original (Swedish)
Valplattformen slår fast att asylrätten aldrig kan tummas på och att Sverige ska försvara den när EU bygger murar. Motförslagets krav på att fullt ut tillämpa första säkra land, kunna stoppa personer som kommer från ett annat säkert land och utreda mottagande utanför unionen står i direkt strid med det åtagandet. Partiprogrammet kräver dessutom att var och en som söker asyl garanteras en individuell och rättssäker prövning.
- asylum rights inviolabledecisive»Rätten att söka asyl kan aldrig tummas på, vi kräver att endast permanenta uppehållstillstånd ska utfärdas vid beviljad asyl.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The right to seek asylum can never be compromised, we demand that only permanent residence permits shall be issued upon granted asylum.”
- against the EU's walls»När rasismen växer, länder sluter sig och EU bygger murar ska Sverige agera för flyktingars rättigheter och försvara asylrätten både i Sverige och internationellt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“When racism grows, countries close themselves off, and the EU builds walls Sweden should act for refugees' rights and defend asylum rights both in Sweden and internationally.”
- individual lawful review»sin rätt till en individuell och rättssäker prövning under värdiga« (party programme ↗)“their right to an individual and lawful review under dignified”
- solidary asylum criteria»Kriterierna för asyl i Sverige ska vara solidariska och« (party programme ↗)“The criteria for asylum in Sweden shall be solidary and”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The party programme requires that the EU takes joint responsibility for asylum and migration issues and that all who seek protection are treated equally according to the principles of solidarity and humanity, and that Sweden offers a safe haven.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme requires that the EU takes joint responsibility for asylum and migration issues and that all who seek protection are treated equally according to the principles of solidarity and humanity, and that Sweden offers a safe haven. The counter-proposal's demands for full application of the first-safe-country principle and reception outside the union go in the opposite direction to that responsibility sharing. The election manifesto's tightened migration line points partly the other way but applies to the national level, not leaving joint EU responsibility.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver att EU tar ett gemensamt ansvar för asyl- och migrationsfrågorna och att alla som söker skydd behandlas likvärdigt enligt solidaritetens och humanitetens principer, samt att Sverige erbjuder en trygg fristad. Motförslagets krav på full tillämpning av första-säkra-land-principen och mottagande utanför unionen går i motsatt riktning mot den ansvarsfördelningen. Valmanifestets åtstramade migrationslinje talar delvis åt andra hållet men gäller nationell nivå, inte att lämna det gemensamma EU-ansvaret.
- joint EU responsibility for asylumdecisive»Vi anser att EU ska ta ett gemensamt ansvar för asyl- och migrationsfrågorna.« (party programme ↗)“We believe that the EU should take joint responsibility for asylum and migration issues.”
- safe haven for those fleeing»Sverige ska erbjuda en trygg fristad åt människor som tvingas fly från förföljelse och våld.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall offer a safe haven to people forced to flee persecution and violence.”
- EU cooperation as foundation»Vi är övertygade om att EU-samarbetet är grunden för att lösa många av vår tids svåraste problem.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We are convinced that EU cooperation is the foundation for solving many of our time's hardest problems.”
- strict migration policy holds firm»Vi har stramat åt migrationspolitiken, och denna linje ligger fast.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We have tightened migration policy, and this line stands firm.”
The plan's commitment is to defend the right to asylum and create more legal pathways to protection, and the party programme explicitly criticizes that EU's refugee policy has built high walls and requires that everyone gets a real opportunity to seek asylum.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's commitment is to defend the right to asylum and create more legal pathways to protection, and the party programme explicitly criticizes that EU's refugee policy has built high walls and requires that everyone gets a real opportunity to seek asylum. The counter-proposal's requirements to fully apply the first safe country principle, stop applicants at the border and investigate reception outside the union goes directly against this.
Original (Swedish)
Planens åtagande är att försvara asylrätten och skapa fler lagliga vägar till skydd, och partiprogrammet kritiserar uttryckligen att EU:s flyktingpolitik rest höga murar och kräver att alla får en reell möjlighet att söka asyl. Motförslagets krav på att fullt ut tillämpa första säkra land-principen, stoppa sökande vid gränsen och utreda mottagande utanför unionen går rakt emot detta.
- defend the right to asylumdecisive»försvara asylrätten och kvotflyktingsystemet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“defend the right to asylum and the quota refugee system”
- against walls in EU's asylum policy»EU:s flyktingpolitik har rest höga murar mot omvärlden.« (party programme ↗)“EU's refugee policy has built high walls against the outside world.”
- more legal pathways»Den som flyr ska ha fler lagliga vägar för att ta sig till säkerhet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The person who flees shall have more legal ways to reach safety.”
- people's right to seek protection»Ingen människa är illegal.« (party programme ↗)“No human being is illegal.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The party programme is unambiguous: the party strives for open borders, free movement and a generous and humane refugee and immigration policy, and the right to seek protection outside one's own country is described as a human right.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme is unambiguous: the party strives for open borders, free movement and a generous and humane refugee and immigration policy, and the right to seek protection outside one's own country is described as a human right. The counter-proposal's demands for full application of first safe country, stopping persons coming from another safe country and investigating reception outside the union go in the opposite direction. The plan instead wants more countries to take responsibility for refugee protection through stronger international agreements.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet är entydigt: partiet strävar efter öppna gränser, fri rörlighet och en generös och human flykting- och invandringspolitik, och rätten att söka skydd utanför sitt eget land beskrivs som en mänsklig rättighet. Motförslagets krav på att fullt ut tillämpa första säkra land, stoppa personer som kommer från ett annat säkert land och utreda mottagande utanför unionen går i motsatt riktning. Planen vill i stället att fler länder tar ansvar för flyktingskyddet genom starkare internationella överenskommelser.
- generous and humane refugee policydecisive»Centerpartiet strävar efter öppna gränser, fri rörlighet samt en generös och human flykting- och invandringspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party strives for open borders, free movement and a generous and humane refugee and immigration policy.”
- asylum as a human right»Att få söka sig en fristad och en försörjning, inte bara inom det land där man är född, utan också utanför landets gränser, är en mänsklig rättighet.« (party programme ↗)“To be able to seek oneself a refuge and a livelihood, not only within the country where one is born, but also outside the country's borders, is a human right.”
- remove obstacles to movement»Centerpartiet vill fortsätta att avlägsna de hinder som finns för enskilda människors rörlighet i världen.« (party programme ↗)“The Centre Party wants to continue to remove the obstacles that exist for individual people's movement in the world.”
- shared responsibility for refugees»Fler länder behöver vara med och ta ansvar för skyddet av flyktingar.« (party programme ↗)“More countries need to be part of and take responsibility for the protection of refugees.”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan establishes that the right of asylum is a fundamental human right and that the EU's asylum policy shall be humane, lawful and in line with international conventions, with responsibility more evenly distributed between countries.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan establishes that the right of asylum is a fundamental human right and that the EU's asylum policy shall be humane, lawful and in line with international conventions, with responsibility more evenly distributed between countries. Full implementation of the first safe country principle, with the possibility of stopping applicants coming from another safe country, and reception outside the union moves in the opposite direction. The counter-proposal's demands are therefore rejected.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att asylrätten är en grundläggande mänsklig rättighet och att EU:s asylpolitik ska vara human, rättssäker och i linje med internationella konventioner, med ansvaret jämnare fördelat mellan länderna. Ett fullt genomslag för första säkra land, med möjlighet att stoppa sökande som kommer från ett annat säkert land, och mottagande utanför unionen går i motsatt riktning. Motförslagets krav avvisas därför.
- valued right of asylumdecisive»Människor som flyr krig och förföljelse ska få skydd. Asylrätten ska värnas där den med asylskäl ska stanna och den utan skäl lämnar landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“People fleeing war and persecution shall receive protection. The right of asylum shall be valued where those with grounds stay and those without grounds leave the country.”
- humane and lawful EU asylum policy»EU:s asylpolitik ska vara human och rättssäker och i linje med internationella konventioner.« (party programme ↗)“The EU's asylum policy shall be humane and lawful and in line with international conventions.”
- asylum as a human right»Asylrätten är en grundläggande mänsklig rättighet.« (party programme ↗)“The right of asylum is a fundamental human right.”
- EU-harmonised migration legislation»Ska integrationen lyckas måste Sverige få en migrationspolitik med en lagstiftning i linje med andra EU-länder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“If integration is to succeed, Sweden needs a migration policy with legislation in line with other EU countries.”
The election manifesto makes strict immigration policy an explicit election promise and links it to integration problems and exclusion; a reform making it possible to fully apply the first safe country principle is in that direction.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto makes strict immigration policy an explicit election promise and links it to integration problems and exclusion; a reform making it possible to fully apply the first safe country principle is in that direction. The party programme's requirement that the EU be open to those in need of protection qualifies but does not change that the plan's most recent and most binding expression points toward a stricter order.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet gör en stram migrationspolitik till ett uttalat vallöfte och kopplar den till integrationsproblem och utanförskap; en reform som gör det möjligt att fullt ut tillämpa första säkra land ligger i den riktningen. Principprogrammets krav på att EU ska vara öppet för skyddsbehövande kvalificerar men ändrar inte att planens senaste och mest bindande uttryck pekar mot en stramare ordning.
- strict immigration policydecisive»Stram migrationspolitik krävs för att ta itu med integrationsproblem och utanförskap.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strict immigration policy is needed to address integration problems and exclusion.”
- strict migration as election promise»EN STRAM MIGRATION« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A STRICT MIGRATION”
- EU's responsibility for those in need of protection»Det är också EU:s skyldighet att vara öppen för de människor« (party programme ↗)“It is also the EU's obligation to be open to people”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The election manifesto requires a volume target at Nordic levels, asylum legislation at the minimum level of EU law and significantly strengthened external border control through Frontex.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto requires a volume target at Nordic levels, asylum legislation at the minimum level of EU law and significantly strengthened external border control through Frontex. The counter-proposal's requirements to fully apply the first safe country rule and to be able to reject those who come from another safe country are in line with the strict approach. Testing reception outside the union is not mentioned, which makes the conclusion derived on that point.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet kräver ett volymmål på nordiska nivåer, en asyllagstiftning på EU-rättens miniminivå och en kraftigt stärkt yttre gränskontroll genom Frontex. Motförslagets krav på att fullt ut kunna tillämpa första säkra land och att kunna avvisa den som kommer från ett annat säkert land ligger i linje med den strama linjen. Att pröva mottagande utanför unionen nämns inte, vilket gör slutsatsen härledd på den punkten.
- volume target for asylum receptiondecisive»Införa ett volymmål för asylmottagandet på nordiska nivåer« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Introduce a volume target for asylum reception at Nordic levels”
- asylum law at EU minimum level»Anpassa asyllagstiftningen efter den rättsliga miniminivån enligt EU-rätten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Adapt asylum legislation to the legal minimum level under EU law”
- strengthened external border control»Stärka EU:s gräns- och kustbevakning, Frontex, för att förbättra kontrollen över EU:s yttre gräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen EU's border and coast guard, Frontex, to improve control of EU's external border”
- decreased asylum immigration»Antalet asylsökande till Sverige behöver minska betydligt.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The number of asylum seekers to Sweden needs to decrease significantly.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan's fundamental migration principle is that asylum shall be sought in the first safe country, which is precisely what the counter-proposal wants to be able to apply fully.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's fundamental migration principle is that asylum shall be sought in the first safe country, which is precisely what the counter-proposal wants to be able to apply fully. The plan also wants large parts of the asylum process to be able to be moved outside the EU following the Danish model and that the EU's external border be strengthened. The counter-proposal's requirements thereby fall directly within the plan's commitments.
Original (Swedish)
Planens grundläggande migrationsprincip är att asyl ska sökas i första säkra land, vilket är exakt vad motförslaget vill kunna tillämpa fullt ut. Planen vill dessutom att stora delar av asylprocessen ska kunna flyttas utanför EU efter dansk förebild och att EU:s yttre gräns stärks. Motförslagets krav faller därmed direkt inom planens åtaganden.
- asylum in the first safe countrydecisive»Sverigedemokraternas grundläggande inställning är att asyl ska sökas i första säkra land.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats' fundamental position is that asylum shall be sought in the first safe country.”
- asylum process outside the EU»Sverigedemokraterna vill se ett EU som likt Danmark motverkar pull-faktorer och möjliggör att stora delar av asylprocessen flyttas utanför EU.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to see an EU that like Denmark counteracts pull factors and makes it possible for large parts of the asylum process to be moved outside the EU.”
- stop migration flows»Stoppa migrationsrörelser till Europa och Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Stop migration flows to Europe and Sweden”
- strengthened external border»Stärka EU:s yttre gräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the EU's external border”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:SfU14)
- Committee report full text (HB01SfU14)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1025 — Permanenta uppehållstillstånd av Helén Pettersson och Åsa Karlsson (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:1114 — Reformering av flyktingkonventionen av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1334 — Införandet av ett viseringsgarantisystem av Denis Begic (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1434 — Lättare att verkställa utvisningsbeslut av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1443 — Obligatoriskt PCR-prov inför utvisning av Ann-Sofie Lifvenhage (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1467 — Utvisningsdömda och anmälningsplikten av Markus Wiechel och Alexander Christiansson (båda SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1536 — Avskaffande av EBO-lagen av Eva Lindh m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1596 — Skyldigheten att anmäla individer som riskerar utvisning av Denis Begic m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2256 — Maten på boenden för asylsökande av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2270 — Sexualbrott av Josefin Malmqvist (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2403 — Brott under tiden som asylsökande av Ellen Juntti och Lars Beckman (båda M)
- Motion 2023/24:2431 — Starkare ställning vid migrationsbeslut för lagstiftning som berör barns bästa och deras rättssäkerhet av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:2432 — Utvärdering av Migrationsverkets hantering av asylsökande afghaner av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:2451 — Utbildning och forskning för ett hållbart samhälle av Camilla Hansén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2452 — Stärkta rättigheter för barn som flyr till Sverige av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:2458 — En folkrörelse för klimatet av Muharrem Demirok m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2489 — Utbildning för livslångt lärande av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2491 — Migration och integration av Jonny Cato m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2556 — Dagersättning för asylsökande av Åsa Karlsson och Isak From (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:2583 — Begäran om upphävande av svenskt medborgarskap av Kerstin Lundgren (C)
Source: The Swedish Parliament