2026-06-092025/26:SfU30 · p.3SfUMigration & social insurance
The right to public counsel
Right to public legal counsel in asylum cases
What's at stake: The decision affects how much professional legal help asylum seekers - who are often in a vulnerable situation - can access to present their grounds for protection, and the balance between public-finance considerations and legal certainty in the asylum process.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the right to public legal counsel in expulsion cases should be tightened and adapted to the EU's minimum legal level, including strict limits on compensable advisory time at the Migration Agency, or whether the current, more extensive rules should remain in place.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee considers that the rules on public counsel need to be tightened and adapted to the EU's minimum legal level, and judges that the proposed arrangement creates an effective and appropriate system while maintaining legal certainty, while public-finance considerations also argue against going beyond what is required. The committee therefore rejects the motions calling for the current rules to remain or for access to public counsel during the asylum process to be further safeguarded.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 4 (S, V, C, MP)
The reservation (S, V, C, MP) considers the government's strict limits on compensable advisory time at the Migration Agency to be a dramatic deterioration, since the asylum process is complex and professional help is essential for individuals to present their grounds for protection correctly. The Council on Legislation criticizes the proposal and warns that the strict time limits conflict with good legal practice and risk leaving people in need without support, and several consultation bodies warn of weakened legal certainty. The reservation wants the current rules to remain, extended to also cover cases under the asylum procedures regulation and the asylum and migration management regulation, with the government instructed to investigate and come back with such a proposal.
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 4 by S, V, C, MP.
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 | No | No 0/20/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| S | No | No 0/106/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/18/0/0 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | No 0/23/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 16/0/0/0 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 18/0/0/1 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| M | Yes | Yes 65/0/0/1 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
| SD | Yes | Yes 68/0/0/2 | follows the plan | confidence: high | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2025/26:4153 by Ida Karkiainen et al. (S) motion 2 and 2025/26:4157 by Niels Paarup-Petersen et al. (C) motion 4.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2025/26:4153 av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S) yrkande 2 och 2025/26:4157 av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C) yrkande 4.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag approved the government's proposal which, among other things, means that permanent residence permits for persons in need of protection and persons who are permanently residing in Sweden and their relatives are removed. The proposal is part of the work to adapt the Swedish regulatory framework for granting international protection and the asylum procedure to the minimum level of EU law. The aim of the adaptation is to create better conditions for integration and to reduce exclusion by reducing asylum-related immigration. The legislative amendments enter into force on 12 July 2026 with certain transitional provisions, except for the amendments in the new Reception Act which enter into force on 2 October 2026.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants permanent residence permits to remain the main rule in Sweden and rejects the government's proposal to phase them out. (S, V, C, MP) — Reservation 4
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 plan requires that asylum seekers be guaranteed an individual and legally certain examination under dignified circumstances and that legal certainty be maintained among other things through legal aid.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that asylum seekers be guaranteed an individual and legally certain examination under dignified circumstances and that legal certainty be maintained among other things through legal aid. Strict time limits for paid legal assistance cut straight into that commitment, which is why the counter-proposal's requirement for retained and expanded rules is supported. The committee's reasoning—that EU minimum level and state finances motivate the restriction—is met by the plan's position that EU law must not set limits on rights and that asylum rights cannot be compromised.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att den som söker asyl garanteras en individuell och rättssäker prövning under värdiga omständigheter och att rättssäkerheten upprätthålls bland annat genom rättshjälp. Strikta tidsgränser för ersättningsberättigat biträde skär rakt in i det åtagandet, varför motförslagets krav på bibehållna och utvidgade regler stöds. Utskottets skäl - att EU:s miniminivå och statsfinanser motiverar åtstramningen - möts av planens hållning att EU-rätten inte får sätta gränser för rättigheter och att asylrätten inte kan tummas på.
- legally certain and dignified asylum examinationdecisive»Här ska den som söker asyl garanteras« (party programme ↗)“Here asylum seekers shall be guaranteed”
- legal aid as legal certainty guarantee»Rättssäkerheten behöver upprätthållas genom rättshjälp, medborgerlig« (party programme ↗)“Legal certainty must be maintained through legal aid, public”
- asylum rights cannot be compromised»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 require that only permanent residence permits shall be issued upon granted asylum.”
- EU minimum level not governing»EU-rätten innehåller orimliga begränsningar av medlemsländernas« (party programme ↗)“EU law contains unreasonable restrictions on member countries'”
The plan guards the principles of the rule of law, equality of all before the law and protection of civil liberties and rights, and states that asylum rights based on humanism and solidarity shall be respected.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan guards the principles of the rule of law, equality of all before the law and protection of civil liberties and rights, and states that asylum rights based on humanism and solidarity shall be respected. Strict time limits for substitute legal counsel that weaken the individual's ability to present their grounds for protection conflict with this. The counter-proposal's demand is thus closer to the plan, which otherwise wants strict migration policy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår vakt om rättsstatens principer, allas likhet inför lagen och skyddet för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter, och slår fast att asylrätten grundad på humanism och solidaritet ska respekteras. Strikta tidsgränser för ersatt biträdesrådgivning som försvagar den enskildes möjlighet att lägga fram sina skyddsskäl står i strid med detta. Motförslagets krav ligger därför närmare planen, som dock i övrigt vill ha en stram migrationspolitik.
- principles of the rule of lawdecisive»Slå vakt om rättsstatens principer.« (party programme ↗)“Guard the principles of the rule of law.”
- equality before the law»En rättsordning som bygger på allas likhet inför lagen.« (party programme ↗)“A legal order built on the equality of all before the law.”
- respected asylum rights»grundas på humanism och solidaritet, ska respekteras« (party programme ↗)“based on humanism and solidarity, shall be respected”
- protection of rights»Skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of civil liberties and rights.”
The plan explicitly commits to strengthening legal security in the asylum process and support for vulnerable groups, and states that individual review of an asylum application is a human right.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly commits to strengthening legal security in the asylum process and support for vulnerable groups, and states that individual review of an asylum application is a human right. Strict limits on compensable advice time undermine the individual's ability to present their grounds for protection, which is why the counter-proposal's demand to maintain and expand current regulations aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen åtar sig uttryckligen att stärka rättssäkerheten i asylprocessen och stödet för sårbara grupper, och slår fast att individuell prövning av en asylansökan är en mänsklig rättighet. Strikta gränser för ersättningsberättigad rådgivningstid urholkar den enskildes möjlighet att lägga fram sina skyddsskäl, varför motförslagets krav på att behålla och utvidga nuvarande regler ligger i linje med planen.
- legally secure asylum processdecisive»stärka rättssäkerheten i asylprocessen och stödet för hbtqi-flyktingar och andra sårbara grupper.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen legal security in the asylum process and support for LGBTQI refugees and other vulnerable groups.”
- right to individual review»Att söka asyl och få sin asylansökan individuellt prövad är en mänsklig rättighet.« (party programme ↗)“Seeking asylum and having one's asylum application individually reviewed is a human right.”
- humane and legally secure migration»Vi gröna står för en human och rättssäker migrationspolitik.« (party programme ↗)“We Greens stand for a humane and legally secure migration policy.”
- access to legal aid»stärka lagstiftningen mot diskriminering och se över rätten till rättshjälp i diskrimineringsfall.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen legislation against discrimination and review the right to legal aid in discrimination cases.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The election manifesto explicitly stipulates that everyone living in Sweden should be able to have their case heard, that processing times should be shortened, and that access to legal counsel should be improved, and wants to create the possibility of compensation for legal counsel in administrative matters.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly stipulates that everyone living in Sweden should be able to have their case heard, that processing times should be shortened, and that access to legal counsel should be improved, and wants to create the possibility of compensation for legal counsel in administrative matters. Strict limits on eligible advisory time in the asylum process directly contradict this. The right to seek asylum is moreover, according to the party programme, a human right.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår uttryckligen fast att alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad, att ledtiderna ska kortas och att tillgången till ombud ska förbättras, och vill skapa möjlighet till ersättning för ombud i förvaltningsärenden. Strikta begränsningar av ersättningsberättigad rådgivningstid i asylprocessen går rakt emot det. Rätten att söka en fristad är enligt partiprogrammet dessutom en mänsklig rättighet.
- improved access to legal counseldecisive»Alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad. Ledtiderna för handläggning och myndighetsutövning i domstolar och myndigheter måste kortas och tillgången till ombud förbättras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone living in Sweden should be able to have their case heard. Processing times in court and administrative proceedings must be shortened and access to legal counsel improved.”
- compensation for legal counsel»Vi vill skapa en möjlighet för enskilda att kunna få ersättning för ombud i förvaltningsärenden då denne haft skäl att få sin sak prövad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to create the possibility for individuals to receive compensation for legal counsel in administrative matters when they have had reason to have their case heard.”
- 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 ↗)“The right to seek asylum and livelihood, not only within the country where one is born, but also beyond the country's borders, is a human right.”
- protection of the rule of law»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and the individual's rights against the state must be protected.”
The plan requires that the asylum process be changed to live up to international legal commitments and that general legal aid be strengthened.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the asylum process be changed to live up to international legal commitments and that general legal aid be strengthened. Strict time limits for compensable representation pull in the opposite direction and weaken the individual's ability to present their protection grounds. The counter-proposal's requirement for retained and expanded rules thus follows from the plan's commitment to a humane and legally certain asylum policy.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att asylprocessen förändras för att leva upp till folkrättsliga åtaganden och att den allmänna rättshjälpen stärks. Strikta tidsgränser för ersättningsberättigat biträde drar åt motsatt håll och försvagar den enskildes möjlighet att lägga fram sina skyddsskäl. Motförslagets krav på bibehållna och utvidgade regler följer därmed av planens åtagande om en human och rättssäker asylpolitik.
- legally certain asylum reviewdecisive»Asylprocessen i Sverige behöver förändras för att leva upp till folkrättsliga åtaganden.« (party programme ↗)“The asylum process in Sweden needs to be changed to live up to international legal commitments.”
- strengthened legal aid»Den allmänna rättshjälpen ska stärkas.« (party programme ↗)“General legal aid shall be strengthened.”
- humane and legally certain 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 legally certain and in accordance with international conventions.”
- individual's rights against authorities»Den enskildes möjligheter att hävda sina rättigheter gentemot myndigheterna måste öka.« (party programme ↗)“The individual's opportunities to assert their rights against authorities must increase.”
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 requires that the entire asylum process be designed so that legal protection is guaranteed for the individual and that resources for investigation are sufficient for both legal protection and efficiency.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the entire asylum process be designed so that legal protection is guaranteed for the individual and that resources for investigation are sufficient for both legal protection and efficiency. Strict time limits for compensation-eligible advice pull in the opposite direction in a process the plan itself describes as crucial for the individual. The requirement for restraint in public spending qualifies but weighs less than legal protection.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att hela asylprocessen är utformad så att rättssäkerhet garanteras den enskilde och att resurserna för utredning är tillräckliga för både rättssäkerhet och effektivitet. Strikta tidsgränser för ersättningsberättigad rådgivning drar åt motsatt håll i en process planen själv beskriver som avgörande för den enskilde. Kravet på återhållsamhet i de offentliga utgifterna kvalificerar men väger lättare än rättssäkerheten.
- legal protection in asylum processdecisive»För den som söker asyl i Sverige måste hela processen vara utformad så att rättssäkerhet garanteras den enskilde.« (party programme ↗)“For the person seeking asylum in Sweden the entire process must be designed so that legal protection is guaranteed the individual.”
- sufficient resources for investigation»Resurser för mottagande av flyktingar och för utredning av deras situation ska vara tillräckliga för att åstadkomma korta handläggningstider, rättssäkerhet och effektiv hantering.« (party programme ↗)“Resources for reception of refugees and for investigation of their situation shall be sufficient to achieve short processing times, legal protection and efficient handling.”
- support in asylum investigation»Medlemmar i frivilligorganisationer som verkar inom flyktingområdet men även andra med lämpliga kunskaper ska kunna medverka i asylutredningar som medborgarvittnen.« (party programme ↗)“Members of voluntary organizations working in the refugee field but also others with appropriate knowledge should be able to participate in asylum investigations as citizen witnesses.”
- restraint in public spending»Sparandet i den svenska ekonomin måste hållas högt genom hushållssparande och genom återhållsamhet i de offentliga utgifterna.« (party programme ↗)“Saving in the Swedish economy must be kept high through household saving and through restraint in public spending.”
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 decisive commitment is that asylum legislation shall be adapted to the legal minimum level according to EU law within the framework of a strict migration policy.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is that asylum legislation shall be adapted to the legal minimum level according to EU law within the framework of a strict migration policy. The counter-proposal instead wants to keep and expand today's more generous rules on legal aid. The plan also demands restraint with tax money, even though it at the same time protects a secure justice system.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att asyllagstiftningen ska anpassas till den rättsliga miniminivån enligt EU-rätten inom ramen för en stram migrationspolitik. Motförslaget vill tvärtom behålla och utvidga dagens mer generösa regler om offentligt biträde. Planen kräver dessutom återhållsamhet med skattemedel, även om den samtidigt värnar ett rättssäkert rättsväsende.
- asylum rules at EU minimum leveldecisive»Anpassa asyllagstiftningen efter den rättsliga miniminivån enligt EU-rätten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Adapt asylum legislation to the legal minimum level according to EU law”
- strict migration policy»En målstyrd, stram och hållbar migrationspolitik är en förutsättning för att integrationen ska fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“A goal-directed, strict and sustainable migration policy is a prerequisite for integration to work.”
- restraint with tax money»Offentligt slöseri i alla former ska bekämpas.« (party programme ↗)“Public waste in all forms shall be combated.”
- legal security in the justice system»Sverige ska ha ett rättsväsende präglat av rättssäkerhet, med en effektiv, välbemannad och rätt utrustad« (party programme ↗)“Sweden shall have a justice system characterised by legal security, with an effective, well-staffed and properly equipped”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan's decisive commitment is that immigration legislation should be the strictest possible within the framework of EU law and that the costs of migration policy should decrease.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's decisive commitment is that immigration legislation should be the strictest possible within the framework of EU law and that the costs of migration policy should decrease. The counter-proposal instead wants to maintain and expand today's more generous rules on compensated legal aid in asylum procedures. This goes against the plan's demand that Swedish regulation should not be more generous than EU law requires.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att utlänningslagstiftningen ska vara den striktast möjliga inom ramen för EU-rätten och att kostnaderna för migrationspolitiken ska minska. Motförslaget vill i stället behålla och utvidga dagens mer generösa regler om ersättningsberättigat offentligt biträde i asylprocessen. Det går emot planens krav på att svensk reglering inte ska vara mer generös än vad EU-rätten kräver.
- strictest possible aliens legislationdecisive»Skärpa reglerna i utlänningslagen till striktas möjliga nivå enligt EU-rätten« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Tighten the rules in the Aliens Act to the strictest possible level according to EU law”
- EU law's minimum level»Utifrån dessa principer vill Sverigedemokraterna utforma den striktast möjliga utlänningslagstiftningen som är möjlig inom ramen för de europeiska asylreglerna.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Based on these principles, Sverigedemokraterna wants to shape the strictest possible immigration legislation possible within the framework of European asylum rules.”
- reduced migration costs»Minska kostnaderna för migrationspolitik, bistånd, EU-bidrag och klimatåtgärder som kan göras mer effektiva« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce the costs of migration policy, aid, EU contributions and climate measures that can be made more efficient”
- right to asylum is not right to approval»Sverigedemokraterna värnar om asylrätten, men vill samtidigt betona att rätten att söka asyl inte är detsamma som rätten att bli beviljad asyl.« (party programme ↗)“Sverigedemokraterna values the right to asylum, but also wants to emphasize that the right to seek asylum is not the same as the right to be granted asylum.”
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:SfU30)
- Committee report full text (HD01SfU30)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:4153 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:262 Utmönstring av permanent uppehållstillstånd och anpassning av svensk rätt till EU:s migrations- och asylpakt av Ida Karkiainen m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:4157 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:262 Utmönstring av permanent uppehållstillstånd och anpassning av svensk rätt till EU:s migrations- och asylpakt av Niels Paarup-Petersen m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2025/26:4170 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:262 Utmönstring av permanent uppehållstillstånd och anpassning av svensk rätt till EU:s migrations- och asylpakt av Malcolm Momodou Jallow m.fl. (-)
- Motion 2025/26:4174 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:262 Utmönstring av permanent uppehållstillstånd och anpassning av svensk rätt till EU:s migrations- och asylpakt av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2025/26:4183 — med anledning av prop. 2025/26:262 Utmönstring av permanent uppehållstillstånd och anpassning av svensk rätt till EU:s migrations- och asylpakt av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V)
- Proposition 2025/26:262 — Utmönstring av permanent uppehållstillstånd och anpassning av svensk rätt till EU:s migrations- och asylpakt
Source: The Swedish Parliament