https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Sweden in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The European Union is in a ‘Barbieland’, presenting itself as a model of harmony and unity while beneath the surface several tensions threaten the unity of the bloc. At least, that’s the verdict of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) in a new report. https://www.thelocal.se/20240925/the-eu-is-in-barbieland-and-becoming-more-xenophobic-new-report-warns Wed, 25 Sep 2024 16:12:47 +0200 the-eu-is-in-barbieland-and-becoming-more-xenophobic-new-report-warns With all of Sweden's votes counted, here are the preliminary results in the EU election as of June 13th. https://www.thelocal.se/20240610/key-stats-who-are-the-winners-and-losers-of-swedens-eu-election Mon, 10 Jun 2024 12:50:46 +0200 key-stats-who-are-the-winners-and-losers-of-swedens-eu-election Five of Sweden's eight parliamentary parties made gains in the EU elections last weekend, with the Left Party and the Greens gaining 4.2 and 2.3 percent of the vote respectively. Where did parties gain the most votes? https://www.thelocal.se/20240611/where-did-the-swedish-parties-make-their-biggest-eu-election-wins Tue, 11 Jun 2024 14:00:23 +0200 where-did-the-swedish-parties-make-their-biggest-eu-election-wins A Sweden Democrat MP who got caught on tape belting out a racist chant at the party's election night vigil has vowed to quit parliament. https://www.thelocal.se/20240611/sweden-democrat-mp-steps-down-over-racist-chant Tue, 11 Jun 2024 09:05:26 +0200 sweden-democrat-mp-steps-down-over-racist-chant The European elections saw drop dramatic results in various countries and some heavy defeats for incumbent leaders. But now the results are (almost) in, it's time to look at what happens next in Brussels? https://www.thelocal.se/20240610/european-elections-what-happens-next-in-brussels-after-shock-results Mon, 10 Jun 2024 20:03:17 +0200 european-elections-what-happens-next-in-brussels-after-shock-results The Green and Left parties were the victors, none of the smaller parties got kicked out of parliament, and the Sweden Democrats suffered their first ever election setback. Here are five takeaways from Sweden's EU elections. https://www.thelocal.se/20240610/five-things-we-learned-from-swedens-surprising-eu-election-results Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:17:04 +0200 five-things-we-learned-from-swedens-surprising-eu-election-results Left-wing and green parties made gains across the Nordics in Sunday's EU elections, official results and exit polls showed, while far-right parties saw their support diminish. https://www.thelocal.se/20240609/nordic-left-wing-parties-gain-far-right-declines-in-eu-vote Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:59 +0200 nordic-left-wing-parties-gain-far-right-declines-in-eu-vote With Europeans heading to the polls for the EU-wide parliament elections, it's a good time to remind ourselves of how the bloc has changed life for consumers. https://www.thelocal.se/20240607/free-roaming-and-flight-compensation-what-has-the-eu-ever-done-for-you Fri, 07 Jun 2024 14:00:27 +0200 free-roaming-and-flight-compensation-what-has-the-eu-ever-done-for-you Sweden goes to the polls this weekend with several parties terrified of the abyss that lurks beneath the four-percent threshold. https://www.thelocal.se/20240605/who-will-be-the-winners-and-losers-in-swedens-eu-election Wed, 05 Jun 2024 10:39:54 +0200 who-will-be-the-winners-and-losers-in-swedens-eu-election With three Swedish parties hovering near the 4 percent threshold for entering the European Parliament, the way seats are counted matters. Here's a quick explainer of Sweden's "modified Sainte-Laguë method". https://www.thelocal.se/20240604/modified-sainte-lague-how-seats-are-awarded-in-eu-elections-in-sweden Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:37:30 +0200 modified-sainte-lague-how-seats-are-awarded-in-eu-elections-in-sweden Ahead of the European elections in June, we explain why MEPs and their staff shuttle between Brussels and Strasbourg several times a year, and why the French city was chosen as an EU seat. https://www.thelocal.se/20240531/why-does-the-european-parliament-move-between-strasbourg-and-brussels Fri, 31 May 2024 17:26:10 +0200 why-does-the-european-parliament-move-between-strasbourg-and-brussels From June 6th to 9th, millions of people across Europe will go to the polls to elect members of the world's only multinational parliament. So what's at stake and how do the elections work? https://www.thelocal.se/20240530/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-european-parliamentary-elections Thu, 30 May 2024 18:01:20 +0200 10-things-you-should-know-about-the-european-parliamentary-elections Investigators on Wednesday were searching the home and offices of an EU parliament staffer as part of a probe into suspected Russian interference and corruption, the Belgian state prosecutor's office said. https://www.thelocal.se/20240529/police-search-european-parliament-over-possible-russian-meddling Wed, 29 May 2024 16:06:59 +0200 police-search-european-parliament-over-possible-russian-meddling The Centre Party and Christian Democrats both risk getting kicked out of the European Parliament if a new poll gets it right. https://www.thelocal.se/20240522/polling-misery-two-swedish-parties-heading-for-disastrous-eu-election Wed, 22 May 2024 08:58:17 +0200 polling-misery-two-swedish-parties-heading-for-disastrous-eu-election Advance voting in the 2024 elections for the European Parliament opens in Sweden on May 22nd. https://www.thelocal.se/20240522/advance-voting-in-2024-european-elections-opens-in-sweden Wed, 22 May 2024 08:45:04 +0200 advance-voting-in-2024-european-elections-opens-in-sweden Voting for the 2024 European elections will soon get under way, but who are the top candidates the Swedish parties want to send to the European parliament? https://www.thelocal.se/20240521/who-are-swedens-top-candidates-in-the-european-election Tue, 21 May 2024 10:52:19 +0200 who-are-swedens-top-candidates-in-the-european-election Advance voting for the 2024 elections for the European Parliament opened on May 22nd. Sweden is of course a member of the EU – so can foreign residents vote in the elections that will almost certainly affect their daily lives? https://www.thelocal.se/20240226/can-residents-in-sweden-vote-in-the-2024-european-elections Mon, 26 Feb 2024 12:10:02 +0100 can-residents-in-sweden-vote-in-the-2024-european-elections Despite the weak krona, less than a quarter of Swedes want to swap their currency for the euro, a new survey suggests. https://www.thelocal.se/20240521/sweden-shows-less-than-half-hearted-support-for-euro-despite-weak-krona Tue, 21 May 2024 16:46:20 +0200 sweden-shows-less-than-half-hearted-support-for-euro-despite-weak-krona The EU elections will be held on June 9th, but advance voting begins next week in Sweden. And poll cards are being sent out as we speak. https://www.thelocal.se/20240516/eligible-voters-to-receive-their-eu-election-poll-cards-in-the-next-few-days Thu, 16 May 2024 08:51:12 +0200 eligible-voters-to-receive-their-eu-election-poll-cards-in-the-next-few-days Here are five key figures about the European Union, which elects its new lawmakers from June 6-9: https://www.thelocal.se/20240509/european-elections-the-5-numbers-you-need-to-understand-the-eu Thu, 09 May 2024 11:22:43 +0200 european-elections-the-5-numbers-you-need-to-understand-the-eu