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 Learn Swedish. Get a personnummer. Go cashless. Moving to a new country means going through a series of 'firsts'. The Local's reader Alexander de Nerée writes about some of the challenges, quirks and adventures he has faced since moving to Sweden. https://www.thelocal.com/20210407/buying-my-first-apartment-in-sweden-how-we-won-the-bidding-war Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:20:16 +0200 buying-my-first-apartment-in-sweden-how-we-won-the-bidding-war People vaccinated against Covid-19 during short, temporary stays in Denmark are currently issued with documentation incompatible with the EU Digital Covid Certificate. https://www.thelocal.com/20210923/how-visitors-vaccinated-in-denmark-are-struggling-to-get-an-eu-covid-19-certificate Thu, 23 Sep 2021 17:44:20 +0200 how-visitors-vaccinated-in-denmark-are-struggling-to-get-an-eu-covid-19-certificate Convicted criminals serving life sentences should be restricted from coming into contact with the outside world by using social media and preventing from freely discussing their crimes publicly, Denmark’s Ministry of Justice said on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.com/20210915/denmark-wants-to-bar-life-sentence-prisoners-from-online-dating Wed, 15 Sep 2021 14:51:18 +0200 denmark-wants-to-bar-life-sentence-prisoners-from-online-dating More than one million Europeans have obtained the new EU Covid health certificate being rolled out in each country to unlock travel within the bloc, the European Commission said on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.com/20210608/a-million-europeans-obtain-eu-covid-health-pass-ahead-of-vote Tue, 08 Jun 2021 15:47:46 +0200 a-million-europeans-obtain-eu-covid-health-pass-ahead-of-vote Despite ongoing travel restrictions, extra costs and uncertainty over new Covid variants, international residents living across Europe vow to travel abroad this summer. For most it is the need to see family that motivates them. https://www.thelocal.com/20210603/im-going-crazy-why-international-residents-in-europe-will-travel-this-summer-despite-covid Thu, 03 Jun 2021 15:50:07 +0200 im-going-crazy-why-international-residents-in-europe-will-travel-this-summer-despite-covid On June 1st, Sweden rolled out the first step of its five-step plan to lift the country’s coronavirus restrictions and recommendations. Here’s what changes this month. https://www.thelocal.com/20210601/what-coronavirus-restrictions-are-changing-in-sweden-june-1st Tue, 01 Jun 2021 11:11:02 +0200 what-coronavirus-restrictions-are-changing-in-sweden-june-1st Sweden on Friday extended the entry ban for non-EU travellers through the summer, but lifted a requirement to show a negative Covid test for visitors from the Nordics. https://www.thelocal.com/20210528/sweden-lifts-travel-restrictions-for-nordic-arrivals-but-extends-them-for-others Fri, 28 May 2021 16:59:19 +0200 sweden-lifts-travel-restrictions-for-nordic-arrivals-but-extends-them-for-others Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven on Thursday announced a five-step plan for easing coronavirus restrictions and finally remove them entirely. https://www.thelocal.com/20210527/sweden-expected-to-start-lifting-coronavirus-restrictions Thu, 27 May 2021 16:19:23 +0200 sweden-expected-to-start-lifting-coronavirus-restrictions 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 What's the worst social offence you could commit in Sweden? How do Swedish people react when they run into each other on the street? These are some of the cultural quirks TikTok marketer Liam Kalevi delves into in a series of viral videos. https://www.thelocal.com/20210514/comedy-liam-kalevi-tiktok-swedish-culture-impressions Fri, 14 May 2021 11:57:52 +0200 comedy-liam-kalevi-tiktok-swedish-culture-impressions 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 Starting this autumn, Ryanair will fly from Stockholm’s main airport to 21 European destinations. https://www.thelocal.com/20210506/ryanair-to-start-flying-from-arlanda-this-autumn Thu, 06 May 2021 14:56:51 +0200 ryanair-to-start-flying-from-arlanda-this-autumn The Swedish government has submitted its plans to overhaul Sweden’s migration laws to parliament. If approved, the changes are set to come into force this summer. https://www.thelocal.com/20210430/swedish-government-sends-new-migration-bill-to-parliament Fri, 30 Apr 2021 12:12:54 +0200 swedish-government-sends-new-migration-bill-to-parliament Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven was quizzed about the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic in a parliament hearing on Monday. https://www.thelocal.com/20210426/today-swedish-pm-stefan-lofven-to-face-questions-over-coronavirus-strategy Mon, 26 Apr 2021 10:15:45 +0200 today-swedish-pm-stefan-lofven-to-face-questions-over-coronavirus-strategy Several Swedish regions have reached their maximum capacity for intensive care and been forced to ask other regions for help as the continued high spread of Covid-19 is leading to more people – especially young people – requiring hospital treatment. https://www.thelocal.com/20210421/yes-its-really-that-bad-several-swedish-regions-have-reached-maximum-intensive-care-capacity Wed, 21 Apr 2021 18:55:51 +0200 yes-its-really-that-bad-several-swedish-regions-have-reached-maximum-intensive-care-capacity The government wants to allow Danes and foreign nationals who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to be allowed to travel in and out of the country without being subject to quarantine or testing rules. https://www.thelocal.com/20210413/danish-government-to-propose-ending-covid-19-travel-restrictions-for-vaccinated-persons Tue, 13 Apr 2021 17:47:55 +0200 danish-government-to-propose-ending-covid-19-travel-restrictions-for-vaccinated-persons Did the Public Health Agency underplay the risk of a second wave of coronavirus in Sweden when it described the rise in cases as "slow" and said public compliance with measures was high? A new report by Swedish public radio investigates. https://www.thelocal.com/20210413/did-swedens-public-health-agency-play-down-the-start-of-the-second-wave-of-covid-19 Tue, 13 Apr 2021 14:26:38 +0200 did-swedens-public-health-agency-play-down-the-start-of-the-second-wave-of-covid-19 Sending and receiving parcels between the UK and Austria has become a little more difficult since Brexit. Here's what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.com/20210305/what-you-should-know-about-posting-packages-between-austria-and-the-uk Fri, 05 Mar 2021 17:21:11 +0100 what-you-should-know-about-posting-packages-between-austria-and-the-uk Denmark is facing growing criticism for a decision last year to revoke residence permits for Syrian refugees, citing a  "safe" situation around Damascus, but the country is sticking to its position. https://www.thelocal.com/20210412/denmark-criticised-over-plan-to-repatriate-syrians-to-safe-damascus Mon, 12 Apr 2021 15:43:18 +0200 denmark-criticised-over-plan-to-repatriate-syrians-to-safe-damascus