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EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level policy measures

Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

Factsheet for measure SE-2022-18/2354 – measures in Sweden

Temporary protection extended to persons arriving before the invasion

Personer som anlände före invasionen ska omfattas av massflyktsdirektivet

Country Sweden , applies nationwide
Time period Open ended, started on 26 April 2022
Context War in Ukraine
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Measures to prevent social hardship
– Other humanitarian measures
Author Anna-Karin Gustafsson (Oxford Research) and Eurofound
Measure added 20 May 2022 (updated 20 June 2022)

Background information

The government of Sweden has decided to extend temporary protection under the EU Directive on Temporary Protection 2001/55/EC to persons from Ukraine arriving in Sweden before the Russian invasion started. The measure is an amendment 2022:256 to the Aliens Ordinance Act 2006:97 [Utlänningsförordningen]. Whereas the Directive on Temporary Protection applies to persons fleeing Ukraine after the 24 February 2022, Sweden is extending the protection to those that left already during the growing tensions with Russia. The aim is to make the immigration process easier for those who were already staying in Sweden when the invasion began.

Content of measure

In accordance with the EU Directive on Temporary Protection 2001/55/EC, those eligible for temporary protection are Ukrainian citizens residing in Ukraine, stateless persons and nationals of third countries other than Ukraine who enjoy international protection in Ukraine, as well as to family members of these persons. The Swedish government extends the right to temporary protection to those who entered and stayed in Sweden from 30 October 2021 until 23 February 2022 will also be included in the group entitled to a residence permit with temporary protection. This is provided that they otherwise fulfil the conditions, for example is a Ukrainian citizen and resident in Ukraine.

The government of Sweden has earmarked an additional SEK 9.8 billion to the Swedish Migration Agency in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine.

Use of measure

No statistics were found regarding temporary asylum seekers from Ukraine that arrived before the 24 February 2022. As of 18 May 2022, there had been a total of 37,371 persons from Ukraine that has applied for protection in Sweden, out of which 35,829 under the clause of temporary protection.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Does not apply to businesses Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role No involvement No involvement
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Unknown
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No information available.

Views and reactions

No information available.

Sources

  • 07 April 2022: Temporary Protection Directive to cover more people (Artikel från Justitiedepartementet Fler personer ska omfattas av massflyktsdirektivet) (www.regeringen.se)
  • 27 April 2022: Updated scenario: 80,000 persons seeking protection will arrive to Sweden from Ukraine this year) (www.migrationsverket.se)
  • 19 May 2022: No "refugee crisis" - more people travel back home (”Flyktingkatastrofen” uteblev – fler reser hem) (www.svd.se)

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Temporary protection extended to persons arriving before the invasion, measure SE-2022-18/2354 (measures in Sweden), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/SE-2022-18_2354.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.