Migration for Nehammer and Kristersson "EU Question of Fate"

Kristersson, who has been leading a conservative-liberal government in Sweden as the head of the "Moderate Coalition Party" since October 2022, stressed that there had been a "paradigm shift" in migration in Sweden two years ago. They had managed to reduce the number of migrants, last year the asylum applications were at their lowest level in many years. "Unconventional approaches" were necessary for the repatriation of illegal migrants and the selection of safe third countries.

Kristersson referred to a recent conversation with the EU Commissioner responsible for migration from Austria, Magnus Brunner. According to him, the EU Commission will present a new regulation on repatriation centres as early as March. Because migrants with a negative asylum decision should not continue to stay illegally in the EU. "Changes must be enforced that people expect," Kristersson said in response to the question of whether international law does not prohibit easier and faster repatriations. Sweden supports Italy at the European Court of Human Rights to redefine the definition of "safe third countries".

Thanks from Nehammer

Nehammer thanked his Swedish counterpart for Sweden's commitment in the EU - like Austria - to solving the migration problem. It was a "matter of destiny for the entire EU". Whether right-wing populists in the EU would continue to gain support also depended on this. A new strategy for the Western Balkans and Africa was now necessary. In the EU, the former distinction between states with external borders and inland states had been overcome. "We are all in the same boat". On the 30th anniversary of both countries' EU accession, Nehammer praised the political and economic cooperation.

Kristersson, who was a professional soldier in the Swedish army as a young man, also commented on a future military dimension of the EU in response to a question from the APA: "It is still too early to mix the tasks of NATO with those of the EU". But the EU now had to take on an important role in the "grey area". This increasingly involved "hybrid warfare", such as disinformation, smuggling of migrants and destabilisation of democracies. The Swedish Prime Minister did not want to answer whether neutrality, which Sweden gave up for NATO membership in March 2024, was still a sensible security concept in the EU. "With NATO membership, Sweden has found the right answer to the current security challenges," said Kristersson.

Kristersson: "The Only Language Russia Understands"

Ukraine must continue to be supported in its fight against the Russian war of aggression. "A just peace is only possible through strength. That is the only language Russia understands," said Kristersson.

(APA/Red)

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