2022-11-302022/23:SfU8 · p.1SfUMigration & social insurance
Court Processing Times in Asylum Cases
Migration courts' processing times in asylum cases
What's at stake: Long processing times place a heavy psychological burden on asylum seekers awaiting a decision, and a long wait before an oral hearing can also undermine legal certainty because memories of events in the home country fade over time. The processing times also carry a cost to society in the form of expenses for receiving asylum seekers.
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 government should set up a dedicated inquiry and budget more predictably to shorten the migration courts' processing times in asylum cases and reduce the differences between the courts, or whether the measures already taken - such as increased funding, legislative changes enabling cooperation between courts and new premises - are sufficient.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee takes a serious view of the shortcomings the National Audit Office points to, but notes that the increase in processing times is largely linked to a rise in the number of asylum cases and other external circumstances rather than a lack of efficiency at the courts. The committee points out that funding for the migration courts has been increased on several occasions, that legislative changes have been made to facilitate cooperation between the courts, and that new permanent premises for oral hearings are due to be ready in Gothenburg during 2024, and therefore rejects the motions.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 1 (V, MP)
The reservation (V, MP) calls for the government to budget on a long-term basis so that the goal of resolving 90 percent of asylum cases within four months is reached, and to set up an inquiry into how processing times in asylum cases can be shortened to strengthen legal certainty. The reasoning is that the government's resource increases so far have been short-term, making it hard for the courts to build up their regular staffing, and that long processing times cause severe psychological strain and risk undermining legal certainty as the asylum seeker's memory of events in the home country fades during the wait.
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 1 by V, MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: CCenterpartiet, KDKristdemokraterna
Ja 262–36Ja 227–71
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | No 0/21/0/3 | match | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 92/0/0/15 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 14/0/0/2 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: medium | explicit |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
| SD | No | Yes 63/0/0/10 | differs | confidence: medium | derived |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects the motions 2022/23:14 by Tony Haddou et al. (V) and 2022/23:24 by Annika Hirvonen et al. (MP) amendments 1 and 2.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2022/23:14 av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V) och 2022/23:24 av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 1 och 2.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has considered a statement from the government concerning the National Audit Office's review of processing times in asylum cases at Sweden's migration courts. The National Audit Office's overall conclusion is that the handling has efficiency shortcomings and that the migration courts are far from meeting the goal of deciding 90 per cent of asylum cases within four months. The National Audit Office also submitted recommendations to the National Courts Administration and the government regarding measures for shorter processing times. In its statement, the government concurs with the National Audit Office's findings and at the same time points to measures that have been taken and that the government will follow up. The Riksdag assumes that the government will follow up the measures and that the National Courts Administration will continue its efficiency work. With this, the Riksdag filed the government's statement, that is to say closed the matter.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants asylum cases to be decided within four months and the government to investigate how handling times can be shortened. (V, MP) — Reservation 1
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 sees the prevailing refugee policy's prolonged uncertainty as a form of psychological violence against an already vulnerable group and demands a humane asylum policy with individual assessment under dignified circumstances and a well-functioning justice system.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees the prevailing refugee policy's prolonged uncertainty as a form of psychological violence against an already vulnerable group and demands a humane asylum policy with individual assessment under dignified circumstances and a well-functioning justice system. Long-term funding and shorter processing times in asylum cases follow directly from this.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser den rådande flyktingpolitikens utdragna ovisshet som en form av psykologiskt våld mot en redan utsatt grupp och kräver en human asylpolitik med individuell prövning under värdiga omständigheter samt ett väl fungerande rättsväsende. Långsiktig finansiering och kortare handläggningstider i asylmål följer direkt av detta.
- uncertainty is psychological violencedecisive»Vänsterpartiet anser att den inhumana flyktingpolitik som råder, med tillfälliga och villkorade uppehållstillstånd, är en form av psykologiskt våld mot en redan utsatt grupp.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The Left Party believes that the inhumane refugee policy that prevails, with temporary and conditional residence permits, is a form of psychological violence against an already vulnerable group.”
- humane asylum policy with legally secure assessment»en human flykting- och asylpolitik där varje asylsökande garanteras« (party programme ↗)“a humane refugee and asylum policy where every asylum seeker is guaranteed”
- functioning justice system»Utan ett väl fungerande rättsväsende undergrävs demokratin och« (party programme ↗)“Without a well-functioning justice system, democracy is undermined and”
- refugees' rights»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 the right to asylum both in Sweden and internationally.”
The plan stands for generous and regulated immigration and for Sweden to offer a safe haven, which requires legal certainty and swift review.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan stands for generous and regulated immigration and for Sweden to offer a safe haven, which requires legal certainty and swift review. Long-term budgeting and an investigation of shorter processing times in asylum cases follow from the commitment to equality before the law and objective administration. The plan does not, however, state a position on the courts' budget allocations.
Original (Swedish)
Planen står för en generös och reglerad invandring och för att Sverige ska erbjuda en trygg fristad, vilket förutsätter rättssäker och skyndsam prövning. Långsiktig budgetering och en utredning om kortare handläggningstider i asylmål följer av åtagandet om likhet inför lagen och saklig myndighetsutövning. Planen uttalar sig dock inte om domstolarnas anslag.
- safe havendecisive»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.”
- generous and regulated immigration»Vi vill ha en generös och reglerad invandring.« (party programme ↗)“We want generous and regulated immigration.”
- equality before the law»Vi är lika inför lagbokens paragrafer och i våra myndigheter arbetar plikttrogna tjänstemän med hög integritet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We are equal before the law's paragraphs and in our authorities work dutiful officials with high integrity.”
- objective administration»Myndigheterna ska beakta allas likhet inför lagen och iaktta saklighet och opartiskhet.« (party programme ↗)“Authorities shall consider everyone's equality before the law and observe objectivity and impartiality.”
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 explicitly wants to shorten processing times for asylum decisions and strengthen legal certainty in the asylum process, and the party programme requires that refugees be guaranteed a legally certain asylum process.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly wants to shorten processing times for asylum decisions and strengthen legal certainty in the asylum process, and the party programme requires that refugees be guaranteed a legally certain asylum process. The counter-proposal's demands for long-term budgeting for the four-month target and an investigation into shorter processing times in asylum cases are the same thing in substance. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill uttryckligen korta handläggningstiderna för asylbeslut och stärka rättssäkerheten i asylprocessen, och partiprogrammet kräver att flyktingar garanteras en rättssäker asylprocess. Motförslagets krav på långsiktig budgetering för fyramånadersmålet och en utredning om kortare handläggningstider i asylmål är samma sak i sak. Planen stöder därför motförslaget.
- short processing timesdecisive»korta handläggningstiderna för arbetstillstånd och asylbeslut så att det går fortare att komma in i samhället.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“shorten processing times for work permits and asylum decisions so that it goes faster to enter society.”
- legally certain asylum process»stärka rättssäkerheten i asylprocessen och stödet för hbtqi-flyktingar och andra sårbara grupper.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen legal certainty in the asylum process and support for LGBTQ refugees and other vulnerable groups.”
- guaranteed legally certain asylum process»flyktingar ska garanteras en rättssäker asylprocess i« (party programme ↗)“refugees shall be guaranteed a legally certain asylum process in”
- protected right to asylum»försvara asylrätten och kvotflyktingsystemet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“defend the right to asylum and the quota refugee system.”
flags: citat_migrerat
The plan's crucial commitment is that processing times for handling and administration in courts and authorities must be shortened.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's crucial commitment is that processing times for handling and administration in courts and authorities must be shortened. The counter-proposal requires precisely this for asylum cases, with long-term budgeting so that the target of four months is reached and an inquiry into shorter processing times. The plan also links the right to have one's case heard and the rule of law's protection of the individual to how authorities and courts function.
Original (Swedish)
Planens avgörande åtagande är att ledtiderna för handläggning och myndighetsutövning i domstolar och myndigheter måste kortas. Motförslaget kräver just detta för asylmålen, med långsiktig budgetering så att målet om fyra månader nås och en utredning om kortare handläggningstider. Planen kopplar dessutom rätten att få sin sak prövad och rättsstatens skydd av individen till hur myndigheter och domstolar fungerar.
- shortened processing times in courtdecisive»Ledtiderna för handläggning och myndighetsutövning i domstolar och myndigheter måste kortas och tillgången till ombud förbättras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Processing times for handling and administration in courts and authorities must be shortened and access to representation improved.”
- right to have one's case heard»Alla som bor i Sverige ska kunna få sin sak prövad.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Everyone who lives in Sweden shall be able to have their case heard.”
- defence of the rule of law»Rättsstaten och individens rättigheter gentemot staten måste försvaras.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The rule of law and the individual's rights in relation to the state must be defended.”
- strong courts»Vi vill göra det svårare att ändra grundlagen, skydda oppositionens ställning i riksdagen och stärka domstolarnas oberoende.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to make it harder to change the fundamental law, protect the opposition's position in parliament and strengthen the independence of the courts.”
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 requires that the justice system's efficiency is improved so that processing times are shortened and wants to see more judges and prosecutors, and it establishes that the asylum process must live up to international law commitments.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the justice system's efficiency is improved so that processing times are shortened and wants to see more judges and prosecutors, and it establishes that the asylum process must live up to international law commitments. The counter-proposal's requirement for long-term budgeting for the four-month goal and an investigation into shorter processing times in asylum cases follows directly from this. That asylum rights shall be protected, with swift examination of who has grounds to stay, strengthens the conclusion.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att rättsväsendets effektivitet förbättras så att handläggningstiderna kortas och vill se fler domare och åklagare, och den slår fast att asylprocessen måste leva upp till folkrättsliga åtaganden. Motförslagets krav på långsiktig budgetering för fyramånadersmålet och en utredning om kortare handläggningstider i asylmål följer direkt av detta. Att asylrätten ska värnas, med snabb prövning av vem som har skäl att stanna, stärker slutsatsen.
- shorter processing timesdecisive»effektivitet behöver förbättras så att handläggningstiderna kortas« (party programme ↗)“efficiency needs to improve so that processing times are shortened”
- more judges and prosecutors»Samtidigt behöver vi fler domare och fler åklagare, och fler häkten och fängelser med fler kriminalvårdare.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“At the same time we need more judges and more prosecutors, and more prisons and correctional facilities with more correctional officers.”
- lawful asylum process»Asylprocessen i Sverige behöver förändras för att leva upp till folkrättsliga åtaganden.« (party programme ↗)“The asylum process in Sweden needs to change to live up to international law commitments.”
- protected asylum rights»Asylrätten ska värnas där den med asylskäl ska stanna och den utan skäl lämnar landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Asylum rights shall be protected where those with asylum grounds stay and those without grounds leave the country.”
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 counter-proposal wants long-term budgeting so that asylum cases are decided within four months and an investigation into shorter processing times.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal wants long-term budgeting so that asylum cases are decided within four months and an investigation into shorter processing times. The party programme explicitly requires that resources for investigation of asylum seekers' situation be sufficient for short processing times and legal certainty, and that the court system is organized so that decisions can be given within reasonable time. The election manifesto also wants to expand the court system with courts in more places.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill långsiktig budgetering så att asylmålen avgörs inom fyra månader och en utredning om kortare handläggningstider. Principprogrammet kräver uttryckligen att resurserna för utredning av asylsökandes situation ska vara tillräckliga för korta handläggningstider och rättssäkerhet, och att domstolsväsendet organiseras så att beslut kan ges inom rimlig tid. Valmanifestet vill dessutom bygga ut rättsväsendet med domstolar på fler platser.
- short processing timesdecisive»åstadkomma korta handläggningstider, rättssäkerhet« (party programme ↗)“achieve short processing times, legal certainty”
- decisions within reasonable time»vara organiserat så att domar och beslut kan ges inom« (party programme ↗)“be organized so that judgments and decisions can be given within”
- legally certain asylum process»För den som söker asyl i Sverige måste hela processen vara utformad så att rättssäkerhet garanteras den« (party programme ↗)“For anyone seeking asylum in Sweden, the entire process must be designed so that legal certainty is guaranteed”
- expanded courts»Hela rättsväsendet behöver byggas ut. Fler poliser kräver fler åklagare, domstolar på fler platser i landet och en kraftigt utbyggd kriminalvård.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The entire justice system needs to be expanded. More police require more prosecutors, courts in more places in the country and a greatly expanded criminal care system.”
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 election manifesto promises to shorten authority processing times through a final deadline and states that it is of utmost importance that those who received a rejection leave the country quickly - both point to shorter processing also in asylum cases in the courts.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto promises to shorten authority processing times through a final deadline and states that it is of utmost importance that those who received a rejection leave the country quickly - both point to shorter processing also in asylum cases in the courts. The plan also wants to strengthen the independence of the courts and legal certainty. The counter-proposal's requirement for long-term budgeting and an investigation into shorter processing times is therefore supported.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet lovar att korta myndigheternas handläggningstider med en bortre tidsgräns och slår fast att det är av största vikt att den som fått avslag snabbt lämnar landet - båda talar för kortare handläggning också i domstolarnas asylmål. Planen vill dessutom stärka domstolarnas oberoende och rättssäkerheten. Motförslagets krav på långsiktig budgetering och en utredning om kortare handläggningstider stöds därför.
- shorter processing timesdecisive»Korta myndigheternas handläggningstider genom en bortre tidsgräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shorten authority processing times through a final deadline”
- quick asylum process»Av största vikt är att den som fått ett nej på asylansökan så fort som möjligt lämnar landet.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It is of utmost importance that those who received a no on their asylum application leave the country as soon as possible.”
- secure courts of justice»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the independence of the courts and the protection of citizens' freedoms and rights”
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 counter-proposal seeks long-term budgeting so that the goal of deciding nine out of ten asylum cases within four months is achieved, and an inquiry into shorter processing times.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The counter-proposal seeks long-term budgeting so that the goal of deciding nine out of ten asylum cases within four months is achieved, and an inquiry into shorter processing times. The plan requires significantly enhanced resources for the justice system and lowering thresholds for expulsion and executing expulsions, which presupposes that asylum cases are decided quickly. The plan also generally drives shorter processing times in official decision-making.
Original (Swedish)
Motförslaget vill ha långsiktig budgetering så att målet att avgöra nio av tio asylmål inom fyra månader nås, och en utredning om kortare handläggningstider. Planen kräver kraftigt upprustade resurser till rättsväsendet och att trösklarna för att utvisa och verkställa utvisningar sänks, vilket förutsätter att asylmålen avgörs snabbt. Planen driver också generellt kortare handläggningstider i myndighetsprövning.
- resources for justice systemdecisive»Säkerställa satsningar för ett kraftigt upprustat rättsväsende« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Secure investments for a significantly enhanced justice system”
- faster expulsions»Trösklarna för att ta i förvar och utvisa personer samt verkställa utvisningar behöver också sänkas.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Thresholds for detention and expulsion of persons and executing expulsions also need to be lowered.”
- quick decisions in migration cases»Bekämpa skuggsamhället och illegal migration med fler kontroller och fler utvisningar« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Combat the underground economy and illegal migration with more checks and more expulsions”
- short processing times»Verka för stärkt kvalitet på utredningar och förkortade handläggningstider« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Work for enhanced quality in investigations and shortened processing times”
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.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2022/23:SfU8)
- Committee report full text (HA01SfU8)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2022/23:14 — med anledning av skr. 2021/22:282 Riksrevisionens rapport om migrationsdomstolarnas handläggningstider i asylmål av Tony Haddou m.fl. (V)
- Motion 2022/23:24 — med anledning av skr. 2021/22:282 Riksrevisionens rapport om migrationsdomstolarnas handläggningstider i asylmål av Annika Hirvonen m.fl. (MP)
- Regeringens skrivelse 2021/22:282 — Riksrevisionens rapport om migrationsdomstolarnas handläggningstider i asylmål
Source: The Swedish Parliament