https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Europe in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Been invited to a bonfire party on April 30th? Wondering what on earth is going on? Swedes are celebrating the arrival of spring. Valborg, or Walpurgis, takes place every year on the last day of April. Here's The Local's guide to the festivities. https://www.thelocal.com/20120430/40562 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:15:00 +0200 40562 Sweden's Migration Minister Johan Forssell of the Moderates said it was "very important" that parliament stopped transitional rules for the new citizenship law. https://www.thelocal.com/20260430/forssell-says-citizenship-transitional-rules-would-have-been-dangerous-for-sweden Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:06:55 +0200 forssell-says-citizenship-transitional-rules-would-have-been-dangerous-for-sweden Clive Eley moved to Denmark just over five years ago from the UK with his wife, a Dane who has spent most of her life outside of Denmark. Since arriving in Denmark he has noticed the tone towards immigrants change for the worse, and now believes that Denmark is turning away the people it wants to attract. https://www.thelocal.com/20260430/interview-danish-rhetoric-on-migration-is-switching-off-people-like-me Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:07:59 +0200 interview-danish-rhetoric-on-migration-is-switching-off-people-like-me The far-right Sweden Democrat party blocked an opposition proposal to add transitional rules to the citizenship law, by sending two MPs to vote that it had agreed would be absent, The Local reveals. https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/sweden-democrats-accused-of-cheating-to-block-transition-rules Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:18:19 +0200 sweden-democrats-accused-of-cheating-to-block-transition-rules The Swedish parliament on April 29th passed a bill affecting the lives of more than 100,000 prospective citizens. The Local reported live from parliament. Join the conversation here. https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/live-blog-swedish-mps-debate-and-vote-on-citizenship-bill Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:01:59 +0200 live-blog-swedish-mps-debate-and-vote-on-citizenship-bill On April 29th, parliament will vote on a bill that makes getting Swedish citizenship a lot harder. What's in it? https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/key-points-whats-in-swedens-june-6th-citizenship-laws Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:17:37 +0200 key-points-whats-in-swedens-june-6th-citizenship-laws With a majority of just one vote, parliament rejected adding transitional rules to Sweden's June 6th citizenship reforms. But there's still reason to be hopeful, writes The Local's Richard Orange. https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/opinion-the-campaign-for-transitional-citizenship-rules-failed-but-it-wasnt-in-vain Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:52:15 +0200 opinion-the-campaign-for-transitional-citizenship-rules-failed-but-it-wasnt-in-vain The majority of refugees who come to Germany each year come from war zones, such as from Syria around 2015 or Ukraine since 2022. So why do a number of US citizens also submit applications for asylum each year? https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/why-do-some-us-citizens-seek-asylum-in-germany Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:21:54 +0200 why-do-some-us-citizens-seek-asylum-in-germany Sweden’s opposition parties failed to add transitional rules to the new stricter citizenship bill when it was voted through by parliament, meaning the tougher rules will apply even to pending applications when they come into force on June 6th. https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/swedens-parliament-rejects-transitional-rules-for-citizenship-bill Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:21:48 +0200 swedens-parliament-rejects-transitional-rules-for-citizenship-bill Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez headed a criminal organisation that rigged public contracts and illegally funded his Socialist party, a defendant in a trial that has threatened the government told a court on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/spains-pm-accused-of-being-crime-kingpin-at-corruption-trial Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:18:44 +0200 spains-pm-accused-of-being-crime-kingpin-at-corruption-trial They're better for the planet, they won't be cancelled because of jet fuel shortages and you can take your own wine on board (100ml limits? What are they?) - here are some suggestions for a French train holiday this summer. https://www.thelocal.com/20260428/12-beautiful-routes-for-french-train-holidays-this-summer Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:49:41 +0200 12-beautiful-routes-for-french-train-holidays-this-summer French history is littered with spectacular comebacks, from the Emperor Napoleon to Charles de Gaulle to Edith Piaf, writes John Lichfield. Could François Hollande, the cuddliest of politicians but tougher than he seems, return to the Elysée Palace nine years after his presidency fizzled into insignificance? https://www.thelocal.com/20260429/opinion-a-second-french-presidency-for-francois-hollande-really Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:15:22 +0200 opinion-a-second-french-presidency-for-francois-hollande-really On April 29th, the Swedish parliament will vote on a bill on tighter citizenship rules – and whether or not transitional rules should be included for the 100,000 applicants already in the queue. We asked The Local's readers what they think MPs need to know ahead of the vote. https://www.thelocal.com/20260427/we-trusted-you-sweden-foreigners-pleas-to-mps-ahead-of-citizenship-vote Mon, 27 Apr 2026 13:55:53 +0200 we-trusted-you-sweden-foreigners-pleas-to-mps-ahead-of-citizenship-vote French President Emmanuel Macron has called on Andorra to "move forwards" on decriminalising abortion during a visit to the principality, which maintains one of Europe's last total bans on abortion. https://www.thelocal.com/20260428/macron-urges-andorra-to-move-forwards-on-decriminalising-abortion Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:49:08 +0200 macron-urges-andorra-to-move-forwards-on-decriminalising-abortion After standardising chargers for mobile phones, from Tuesday new computers sold in EU countries must also use the USB-C charging point, as the latest phase of EU anti-waste legislation comes into force. https://www.thelocal.com/20260428/eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:16:33 +0200 eu-anti-waste-law-new-laptops-sold-in-europe-must-now-use-usb-c-chargers Sweden's four opposition parties have included a joint counter-motion in the citizenship bill which goes before parliament on Wednesday, calling for transitional rules to be brought in for existing applications and ongoing appeals. https://www.thelocal.com/20260428/swedens-opposition-submit-joint-text-on-transitional-rules-for-citizenship Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:07:50 +0200 swedens-opposition-submit-joint-text-on-transitional-rules-for-citizenship Travel uncertainty is leading to more French people planning a summer holiday in their own country, making French resorts busier than usual. https://www.thelocal.com/20260428/summer-2026-expected-to-be-very-busy-in-french-holiday-resorts Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:02:34 +0200 summer-2026-expected-to-be-very-busy-in-french-holiday-resorts Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea and other low-cost airlines are feeling the financial pain from high jet fuel prices as a result of the Middle East war and are cutting flights. https://www.thelocal.com/20260428/budget-airlines-first-to-cut-flights-as-jet-fuel-prices-soar Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:39:16 +0200 budget-airlines-first-to-cut-flights-as-jet-fuel-prices-soar A start date has been agreed for the long-awaited direct train linking Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport with the city. https://www.thelocal.com/20260427/start-date-set-for-new-paris-airport-link Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:24:01 +0200 start-date-set-for-new-paris-airport-link It's the start of a crucial week for a lot of foreigners in Sweden, especially those 100,000 people waiting for a decision on their citizenship application. https://www.thelocal.com/20260427/crunch-time-for-swedish-citizenship-campaigners-as-crucial-vote-draws-near Mon, 27 Apr 2026 09:52:54 +0200 crunch-time-for-swedish-citizenship-campaigners-as-crucial-vote-draws-near