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 There's something heroic about the way Danes and Swedes insist on trying to communicate with one another using their own languages, but more often than not end up nodding, smiling, and only pretending to understand. Why not give up and just speak English? https://www.thelocal.com/20210429/why-do-swedes-and-danes-insist-on-pretending-they-speak-the-same-language Thu, 29 Apr 2021 11:20:29 +0200 why-do-swedes-and-danes-insist-on-pretending-they-speak-the-same-language What do the plans to change Swedish rental laws mean for residents, and could the row over the proposals really bring down the government? The Local explains. https://www.thelocal.com/20210615/explained-whats-going-on-with-swedens-rental-laws-and-is-the-government-in-danger Tue, 15 Jun 2021 14:48:08 +0200 explained-whats-going-on-with-swedens-rental-laws-and-is-the-government-in-danger It makes sense that most items on a Swedish smörgåsbord are served cold, because people in Sweden wait so long to start eating that anything once hot is at best lukewarm anyway. https://www.thelocal.com/20210531/why-do-swedes-wait-until-their-food-is-completely-cold-before-touching-it Mon, 31 May 2021 12:13:07 +0200 why-do-swedes-wait-until-their-food-is-completely-cold-before-touching-it Gothenburg in the first half of the 20th century was a very different – and surprisingly similar – city to what it is today. Let's take a look... https://www.thelocal.com/20191015/step-back-in-time-10-fascinating-images-that-bring-historic-gothenburg-to-life Tue, 15 Oct 2019 16:31:07 +0200 step-back-in-time-10-fascinating-images-that-bring-historic-gothenburg-to-life Few things agitate the anti-immigration right like the idea that Swedish customs, values and traditions are being undermined (or even replaced) due to the arrival of immigrants from “Other” parts of the world, writes Christian Christensen. https://www.thelocal.com/20210520/opinion-backlash-over-eid-well-wishes-shows-the-rise-of-culture-wars-in-sweden Thu, 20 May 2021 17:32:22 +0200 opinion-backlash-over-eid-well-wishes-shows-the-rise-of-culture-wars-in-sweden Swedish agencies and associations, including trade unions and the Migration Agency, have weighed in on government proposals to overhaul the work permit system. https://www.thelocal.com/20210505/swedish-government-work-permit-proposals-employers-unions Wed, 05 May 2021 17:43:52 +0200 swedish-government-work-permit-proposals-employers-unions The so-called cordon sanitaire that long barred the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats from real political influence is now well and truly gone. The Local spoke to the party's leader Jimmie Åkesson about how he thinks he can now change Swedish politics and policies around migration. https://www.thelocal.com/20210513/jimmie-akesson-interview-if-you-dont-want-to-be-part-of-sweden-then-you-cannot-live-here Thu, 13 May 2021 10:10:44 +0200 jimmie-akesson-interview-if-you-dont-want-to-be-part-of-sweden-then-you-cannot-live-here The Local takes a look at the key proposals in the government's planned overhaul of Swedish migration law and what they mean for you – from a new Swedish language requirement for permanent residents, to changes to the maintenance requirement for family members. https://www.thelocal.com/20210409/how-swedens-new-migration-bill-affects-you Fri, 09 Apr 2021 19:03:47 +0200 how-swedens-new-migration-bill-affects-you Sweden has taken one step closer towards its own digital currency – the “e-krona”. https://www.thelocal.com/20210412/what-you-need-to-know-about-swedens-plans-for-a-digital-currency Mon, 12 Apr 2021 09:41:55 +0200 what-you-need-to-know-about-swedens-plans-for-a-digital-currency Does the Liberal Party's decision to open the door to working with the Sweden Democrats indicate a shift in Swedish politics ahead of the 2022 election? The Local speaks with two political analysts to find out what's going on. https://www.thelocal.com/20210406/analysis-has-the-far-right-become-normalised-in-sweden Tue, 06 Apr 2021 18:29:34 +0200 analysis-has-the-far-right-become-normalised-in-sweden The second smallest party in the Swedish parliament, the Liberals, is again dominating the headlines after it approved proposals to campaign for a centre-right government in next year's general election, opening the door to cooperation with the far-right Sweden Democrats. https://www.thelocal.com/20210329/working-with-the-far-right-what-a-watershed-liberal-party-vote-means-for-swedish-politics Mon, 29 Mar 2021 12:40:24 +0200 working-with-the-far-right-what-a-watershed-liberal-party-vote-means-for-swedish-politics