On Thursday, Sweden decided that it must regain control of its borders as the refugee crisis continues to put enormous pressure on all European and Scandinavian countries.
On Thursday, Sweden announced that it will be reinstituting strict border controls as the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe and Scandinavia continues unabated. At the same time, many European Union countries signed an agreement that will send immediate aid to many African nations in a concerted effort to try and keep Africans from fleeing war torn regions afflicted with violence and poverty.
Sweden’s prime minister, Stephan Lofven, stated that it was necessary for Sweden to control its borders at this time as the migrants continue to overwhelm the country, according to The New York Times. The refugee crisis in Scandinavia and Europe has been having a huge impact on the European Union policy of free travel between the borders of European and Scandinavian nations.
The Swedish prime minister reiterated that they were not blocking free movement, and that Sweden was taking no more refugees. He simply stated that Sweden, like many other nations, needs to control its borders to prevent even further chaos. The migrant and refugee crisis doesn’t look to ease anytime soon as thousands upon thousands of people are fleeing the Middle East and Africa for a chance at a better life elsewhere. It is the largest movement and displacement of people since the end of the Second World War.
The prime minister said that they are working within European Union guidelines and was quick to point out that Sweden has taken in more refugees, per capita, than any other nation in Scandinavia or Europe. While the open border policy of the continent still remains somewhat intact, many leaders have recognized the need to reorganize and reassess such movement in the light of thousands, even millions, of refugees pouring into the continent.
Many European leaders, including Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, signed an aid agreement to send nearly $2 billion in aid to certain African countries in an effort to address the problems that are causing the unprecedented emigration on the African continent. While this may be helpful, it does nothing to stem the tide of refugees pouring in from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
