Government Invests in Return Centers and Scrapped Private Housing in Sweeden
In the latest budget, the Swedish government has announced investments in return centers, scrapped private housing (ebo), and better cooperation with countries that do not want to accept deported citizens from Sweden. The aim of these measures is to streamline the asylum process and ensure that those whose asylum claims have been rejected are returned promptly.
The investment in setting up return centers is the largest in the area of migration. The government plans to allocate SEK 295 million in 2024, with a similar allocation expected for the following year. By 2025, it is estimated that 2,900 places will be needed at these centers. However, the exact locations and timelines for their establishment are still uncertain.
SD party leader Jimmie Åkesson expressed his view that many of these measures should have been taken years ago. He believes that moving individuals to a return center will serve as a clear indication that their asylum process is over.
Ebo, which allows asylum seekers to choose their own accommodation, will be abolished. Instead, all asylum seekers will be required to live in reception centers. To support this change, SEK 21 million will be allocated next year, with the sum rising to SEK 275 million in 2026. Migration Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard emphasizes that this will lead to a more efficient asylum process and a more efficient return, as the majority of asylum seekers are not found to have grounds for asylum.
The government is also looking to strengthen cooperation with third countries that will receive deported individuals. This includes increasing diplomatic and political contacts, with SEK 25 million set aside in 2024 and SEK 50 million in the following years. SD party leader Jimmie Åkesson expresses satisfaction with the government’s newfound political will in this regard.
Overall, the government’s spending on migration is expected to decrease in the upcoming budget, from SEK 16 billion this year to SEK 13.8 billion in 2024. This decline is attributed to the decreasing number of asylum seekers, which is expected to continue.
The government’s focus on return centers, scrapped private housing, and cooperation with third countries reflects its commitment to managing migration more effectively and ensuring that individuals without grounds for asylum are returned promptly.